Transcript Highlights:

• environmental reviews, or assess environmental reviews, or assess indirect,<00:59:29.680> let
• In environmental assessments and EIS's.
• <02:33:44.240> continue an arbitrary standard, they'll continue an arbitrary standard, they'll
• predators do not obey arbitrary predators do not obey arbitrary boundaries.<02:52:05.840> Sure
• scientists tasked with assessing scientists tasked with assessing population<03:24:36.560> numbers

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, December 18, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I'm going to say that this is arbitrary.
• And doing this while raising an arbitrary cut line for proficiency, it's good to have high expectations
• The total tax assessment for education in each town did not change because the sum of those two lines
• <04:35:32.959> for<04:35:33.240> education<04:35:34.160> in total tax assessment
• for education in total tax assessment for education in each<04:35:34.760> town<04:35:35.359><

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on HB 563, which would revise the education funding formula for pupils receiving special education services by replacing the current single special education amount with three differentiated categories. Representative Rick Ladd, the prime sponsor, said the bill largely tracks a House-passed version from the prior session with minor figure adjustments, and explained that the proposal uses projected FY26 amounts for three categories based on time in general education versus more intensive placements. He also noted that the bill does not address catastrophic aid directly, but that special education aid, CAT aid, and proration all remain issues for later work sessions. Ladd and supporters argued that weighted categories better reflect actual costs and are more sustainable than treating all IEPs the same. Representative Margaret Drye said the approach was one of the best ideas from the education funding subcommittee and urged the committee to support differentiated aid. Representative Ames asked how the category amounts were derived, and Ladd said Category A follows the FY26 base, Category B is a higher weight, and Category C is a still higher weight for more intensive services, though he acknowledged the exact multipliers were developed earlier and could be revisited. He also said the committee would continue discussing whether the weights are appropriate and how they interact with CAT aid. Testimony from Bonnie Dunham strongly opposed the bill. She argued that funding based on placement rather than actual service need would create incentives to move students into more restrictive settings, could stigmatize children with labels such as "Category C," and would undermine the least restrictive environment requirements under federal special education law. She described her son’s experience in inclusive settings as beneficial and said the bill would have penalized the district for serving him there. In response to questions, she said schools and parents should base funding on the child’s actual needs and costs, not on placement, and urged the committee to recommend the bill inexpedient to legislate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Supreme Court case in the 20s, that said health, safety, and welfare and not arbitrary aesthetics.
• So they can't just come up with an arbitrary regulation. So I really want to flag that.
• What it does remove is the arbitrary requirement that manufactured housing be required in a majority
• So they can't just come up with an arbitrary regulation. So I really want to flag that.
• Majority of land is very arbitrary, right?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yet, there were still no assessments on land use and preferred locations for projects, most of which
• on land use still been no assessments on land use and<00:50:19.160> preferred<00:50:19.520>
• the impact of future farming to assess the impact of future farming in<00:51:04.400> Vermont.
• President, but I was wondering about where this arbitrary number comes about in the state of Vermont
• bonds, and this is actually assessment bonds, and this is actually the<01:54:00.760> same<01:

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Screening and assessment outcomes, applications for benefits, denial notices and appeals, explanation
• So you're saying that 12 and 13 is just some arbitrary number?

Bills: HB368, HB3311, HB1734, HB2495, HB2716, HB793, HB3376, HB2524, HB3421, HB3446, HB3181

Keywords: electronic devices, family violence, criminal prosecution, protective orders, tracking, harassment, family allowance, decedent's estate, surviving spouse, minor children, inheritance, child support, maintenance, HB 1734, Family Code, Section 155.207, suit affecting the parent-child relationship, SAPCR, continuing exclusive jurisdiction, jurisdiction transfer

Bills: HB3840, HB3431, HB4422, HB4117, HB4300, HB4298, HB2984, HB3344, HB2979, HB2980, HB3662, HB4107, HB3082, HB2997, HB3083, HB3055, HB2951, HB3469, HB3173, HB3287, HB2947, HB3784, HB3901, HB4275, HR1031, HB4359, HB4115, HB3467, HB2978, HB3026, HB3032

Keywords: foreign ownership, land acquisition, military installation, critical infrastructure, affidavit requirements, state law, penalties, Attorney General, foreign ownership of land, foreign adversary, foreign government adversary, foreign government enterprise, foreign government entity, foreign terrorist organization, specially designated national, SDN, FTO, critical minerals, land ownership, real property

Transcript Highlights:

• It caps the increase on assessments for certain mobile home parks to 3% annually.
• ... ...or contiguous with land with an agricultural classification to be assessed as part of yield per
• Everyone came together to assess what to do or what actions to take considering the conditions.
• So once again, I think this will help deter a lot of the arbitrary pickups that we have seen in the last
• so... ...hoping that with the implementation of this, we will see less and less of some of these arbitrary

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It caps the increase on assessments for certain mobile home parks to 3% annually.
• Or contiguous with land with an agricultural classification to be assessed as part of yield per acre
• Everyone came together to assess what to do or what actions to take considering the conditions.
• So once again, I think this will help deter a lot of the arbitrary pickups that we have seen in the last
• sort of hoping that with the implementation of this, we will see less and less of some of these arbitrary

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Like in your programming, because it's arbitrary.
• Open us per damage assessment and things like that.
• And how do we assess that? How do we quantify that?
• This is where the risk assessment comes in, followed by cybersecurity.
• They're all complying with the same risk assessment. And we'll push that off to vendors and start.

Transcript Highlights:

• The arbitrary and haphazard way that These efforts are being approached as failing that mission in harming
• regulation, and leadership changes, lack of previous program standardization, and questionable assessments
• However, we are deeply concerned that the current seemingly arbitrary federal staffing reductions The

Keywords: veteran services, Secretary Collins, healthcare provisions, contract cancellations, transparency, accountability, committee meeting, legislation

Summary: During this committee meeting, various bills were discussed with a specific focus on veteran services and healthcare provisions. Notably, the cancellation of critical contracts under Secretary Collins sparked significant debate, with representatives emphasizing the adverse impact on veteran care. The meeting featured testimonies from veterans and stakeholders who expressed their concerns regarding the potential fallout of these cancellations, demonstrating the urgency of transparency and accountability in management decisions. Discussions also delved into various legislative proposals aimed at improving services for veterans amidst these challenges.

Transcript Highlights:

• 24:17.600> then<00:24:17.840> certainly assessed by priority and then certainly assessed
• assessment as a gateway to licensure.
• required to gain certification arbitrary required to gain certification arbitrary no<02:00:11.840
• As are learned, assessed, and mastered.
• written exam is one form of assessment. written exam is one form of assessment.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened a hearing on Senate Bill 185, which would add timelines to Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) investigations. Senator Howard Pearl said the bill was prompted by concerns from the New Hampshire Association of Realtors about delays at the Real Estate Commission, and he explained that the proposal would require OPLC staff to make an initial determination within 30 days and, if misconduct is found, complete an investigation within 60 days. He said the goal is to improve transparency and give consumers and licensees more timely information, while preserving the board’s adjudicatory role. He also noted that the bill had been amended to delay implementation to give OPLC time to work through its backlog. Committee members questioned how the bill would work when an investigation is incomplete and whether the board could send a case back to OPLC without a firm deadline. Pearl said the board would have discretion to continue the investigation or make a final determination, and that the bill was intended to streamline OPLC’s process rather than impose a hard cap on complex cases. OPLC Executive Director Deanna Durus and General Counsel Nicholas Fry then testified that the agency has already changed its procedures under prior legislation, including a facial review of complaints and monthly board review of dismissal memos. They said the bill would substantially alter the current structure, could conflict with existing limitation periods and board duties, and would be difficult to implement without additional staff and funding. Durus said the agency’s backlog is large, that new complaints are being triaged and prioritized, and that some urgent matters are moved ahead based on risk and statutory deadlines. She said OPLC had completed a review of about 500 backlog cases that would now be dismissed under current screening standards, and that those cases are being turned into memos for board review. Board of Medicine public member Nina Gardner testified in favor of the bill but said the backlog is significant and that the agency needs more resources to make the process work effectively. She said the board is seeing progress, but not fast enough, and suggested the bill may not go far enough without additional staffing and funding. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• backlogs and establishes a assessment backlogs and establishes a MnChoices<00:19:19.080> redesign
• It is not an arbitrary for 90 days.
• It is not an arbitrary number.<00:37:50.480> It<00:37:50.560> is<00:37:50.680> a
• <01:02:26.680> Uh uh groups, counseling, assessments.
• Uh uh groups, counseling, assessments.

Bills: HF4207, HF4338

Keywords: housing aid, local housing trust, funding projects, income provisions, technical changes, human services, medical assistance, Medicaid, provider enrollment, provider revalidation, fraud prevention, program integrity, background study, background check, fingerprinting, licensing, license revocation, payment withholding, payment suspension, prepayment review

Transcript Highlights:

• <01:03:49.760> and<01:03:50.039> acceptance person's own assessment and acceptance
• it's more arbitrary enforcement it's more susceptible<03:56:27.159> to<03:56:27.359> to
• If the court believes that it is, then our office will have to assess options, and the next step is the
• But it's certainly something: anytime we get an adverse ruling in court, our office assesses whether
• Librarians themselves were the ones trained to assess the value of this material to the table.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 763, an early bill concerning AED access at athletic events and venues. Representative Morris offered amendment 0743H to clarify the bill by removing charter schools from the language and tying AED placement to American Heart Association guidance, emphasizing that AEDs should be readily accessible within a reasonable walking distance rather than mandated on every field. The amendment and then the bill as amended both passed 17-0, and the bill was reported out as Ought to Pass with Amendment. The committee then considered House Bill 781, requiring school districts to adopt cell phone-free education policies, and a related bill, House Bill 131. HB 781 was amended to include charter public school boards, cover other personal electronic communication devices, require at minimum restrictions on student personal cell phones during class instruction, allow superintendent-approved exceptions for medical or language needs, protect students with medical needs or disabilities under Section 504, and set an effective date of July 1, 2025. Some members argued the amendment was too prescriptive and limited local control, while supporters said it still left districts flexibility outside classroom instruction. The amendment passed 16-1, and the bill then passed Ought to Pass as Amended 16-1. HB 131, described as a mirror bill, was then retained by a 17-0 vote. House Bill 398, a title bill requiring Holocaust and genocide studies to include impacts on people with disabilities, was moved to ITL after Representative Selig reported the genocide commission believed the topic was already being covered. That motion passed 17-0. The committee also agreed to hold several bills for later consideration, including HB 754, HB 1221, HB 360, and HB 699, citing the need for more review or missing copies. Finally, the committee took up House Bill 361, prohibiting mandatory mask policies in schools. Supporters argued the bill would preserve individual choice while preventing statewide or districtwide mandates in future public health emergencies, and cited a Department of Health and Human Services letter saying masks remain effective but decisions should be based on individual choice and risk assessment. Opponents emphasized local control and the need for districts to respond to different public health conditions. The transcript cuts off before the final vote on HB 361 was completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you might have to also do kind of an assessment of, like, okay, well, how do we get the best of both
• But putting it in that context, how would that affect your assessment of Would that affect your assessment
• It was circulated already for members to assess, to include input, to suggest priorities.
• or underestimate a lot of these things, you won't have much idea as to what it's going to be very arbitrary

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Yeah, I'm very concerned about the arbitrariness of the automatic piece.
• But the criminal penalty, enhanced penalties, I just think it could have some arbitrary application and
• penalties, I just think it it could have penalties, I just think it it could have some<00:26:47.600> arbitrary
• although I was very proud as a CEO to be operating a five-star program, is a once-every-three-year assessment
• The speaker explains that the Kentucky All-Stars program is a once-every-three-year assessment that provides

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Roll Call 00:00:10 SB 11 Discussion 00:01:20 SB 11 Vote 00:05:00 SB 41 Discussion 00:5:43 SB 41 Vote 00:15:03 SB 59 Discussion 00:20:30 SB 59 Vote 00:28:15 SB 57 Discussion 00:29:40 SB 57 Vote 00:40:00 SB 125 Discussion 00:42:43 SB 125 Vote 00:50:53 SB 191 Discussion 00:53:19 SB 191 Vote 00:59:38, 958, all

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 11, a proposal to create a matching-grant program for neighborhood storm shelters in rural Kentucky. Sponsor Steve Meredith and supporters from the Kentucky League of Cities and the City of Morgantown said the idea was to use FEMA-style funding to help residents who live far from community shelters, noting that in some rural counties it can take 30 to 45 minutes to reach a shelter during severe weather. The committee adopted the substitute and passed the bill 11-0, with no nay votes. The committee then considered Senate Bill 41, which would require a ballot referendum whenever a taxing entity raises property taxes more than 4 percent, rather than relying on the current petition process. Sponsor Gary Boswell said the bill would give taxpayers more direct control and argued that local governments should simply avoid raising taxes above the threshold. Superintendents from Rockcastle and Casey counties opposed the bill, saying it would weaken local control, add election costs, delay budgets, and make it harder for school districts to keep up with inflation, insurance, transportation, and construction costs. After debate, the committee passed the bill 7-3 with favorable expression. Next, the committee heard Senate Bill 59, which would add criminal penalties to KRS 65.013, the law barring public funds from being used to advocate for or against ballot questions. Sponsor Steve Rawlings said the measure was prompted by reports of school officials using public resources to oppose a 2024 ballot issue and argued the law needs real enforcement to protect taxpayers and election integrity. Members raised concerns about First Amendment issues and the bill’s gray areas, especially for public employees speaking on their own time; Rawlings said the substitute removed volunteer references, allowed balanced issue debates, and clarified that employees acting on their own time and resources would not be prohibited. The committee passed the bill 8-3 with favorable expression. The committee also began hearing Senate Bill 57, as substituted, from Senator Danny Carroll. The bill would create a nuclear-ready site readiness pilot program under the Kentucky Nuclear Energy Development Authority, with up to three projects receiving up to $25 million each to help cover early site permitting and related licensing costs. Carroll, along with witnesses from the UK Center for Applied Energy Research and the Public Service Commission, said the goal is to build a nuclear energy ecosystem in Kentucky, with safeguards including surety bonds, deadlines, and cost-recovery provisions. The discussion was still underway when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• California today our laws fail to protect all victims of forced marriage equally, and they impose arbitrary
• We should not be locking people out of protection and justice just because they didn't meet some arbitrary
• in California with the Department of Toxic Substances Control provides the appropriate forum for assessing
• in California with the Department of Toxic Substances Control provides the appropriate forum for assessing
• Typically, quasi-legislative actions are reviewed pursuant to an arbitrary and capricious standard.

Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 1521, the Judiciary Committee’s civil law omnibus measure. The bill makes a number of minor, mostly clarifying changes, including repealing obsolete Government Code provisions, allowing juvenile courts to hear petitions to establish records of birth, death, or marriage, requiring notice of probate petitions to the Department of Child Support Services, and correcting typos in existing law. It had no opposition and was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations, though it was later placed on call pending additional votes. Members then heard AB 57, which would reserve at least 10% of California’s Home Purchase Assistance Program funds for descendants of formerly enslaved people. The author and supporters framed it as a reparative, race-neutral-by-lineage effort to address historic housing discrimination and the racial wealth gap, while opponents argued it was an unconstitutional racial proxy and should instead be based on individual injury. The bill drew strong support and opposition testimony, was amended, and was approved on a do-pass as amended vote to Appropriations, then placed on call. AB 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, was heard next. The bill would expand and standardize caregiving and guardianship tools for families facing immigration-related separation, including broader use of caregiver authorization affidavits, recognition of non-relative extended family caregivers, and a new short-term guardianship process that preserves parental rights. Supporters said it would reduce trauma and help children remain with trusted caregivers; there was no opposition testimony. The committee approved it on a do-pass to Human Services vote and placed it on call. The committee also heard AB 392, which would address non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit media by requiring uploader consent certifications, faster takedown procedures, and civil remedies against uploaders and hosting sites. A survivor testified in support, and members discussed implementation details and possible amendments; the bill was moved on a do-pass as amended basis to Appropriations and placed on call. AB 692, which would prohibit employer “stay-or-pay” debt agreements that require workers to repay training or other costs if they leave or are terminated, also advanced despite opposition from business and industry groups concerned about impacts on signing bonuses and voluntary training programs. It was sent to Appropriations on a do-pass as amended vote and placed on call, along with AB 1234, a wage-claim enforcement bill aimed at reducing Labor Commissioner delays and adding consequences for employers who fail to participate in the process. The committee also heard AB 394, which expands protections for transit workers and allows transit agencies to seek restraining orders against violent riders; it received broad support, some concern about system-wide bans, and was discussed with amendments that preserved judicial discretion.

Transcript Highlights:

• And 1.4 cents isn't just an arbitrary number.
• cents isn't just an arbitrary number. cents isn't just an arbitrary number.
• This is to just report the odometer reading to the Department of Motor Vehicles so that they can assess
• Moving on to Section 30, Green Mountain Transit Authority, their annual budget and assessments.
• Grants, donations, and other non-assessment revenue.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:35:06.000> argument<00:35:06.320> that cost or some arbitrary argument that cost
• or some arbitrary argument that they<00:35:06.720> are<00:35:06.800> a<00:35:06.960>
• The estimated cost is 1.41% of pay assessed to all current and future members prospectively.
• The two issues with this component is how that cost is assessed.
• Issue number one is that assessed.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the alternate assessment, also called the NDAA.
• Those are the main assessments unless otherwise noted.
• The alternate assessment testers are around 574.
• went through for the new NDAA plus data assessment.
• It is both subjects basically are included in that assessment.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then the alternate assessment, also called the NDAA.
• Those are the main assessments unless otherwise noted.
• went through for the new NDA plus date assessment.
• It is both subjects, basically, are included in that assessment.
• That's the good and bad thing about standardized assessment, right?

Summary: The committee first approved the minutes and then received a lengthy DPI presentation from Stanley Schauer on statewide reading and math assessment data for students with and without disabilities. He explained the assessment systems used over time, the absence of 2019-20 data, and how North Dakota’s standards are set by educators. Members asked about alternate assessments, cohort trends, the apparent drop in proficiency in higher grades, and the new NDA+ assessment. Schauer emphasized that the biggest pattern in the data was the relative stability of students with disabilities, the post-pandemic drop and partial recovery, and the need to focus on reducing the novice category. He also said the state plans to revisit high school standard setting and that future data could be broken out by program, disability category, and schools using science-of-math or other initiatives. Public testimony from special education staff suggested that the flat performance of students with disabilities during COVID likely reflected continued services and intensive supports, and committee members discussed whether the current disparity goal is realistic and whether growth measures would be more useful than simple proficiency buckets. After the presentation, the committee took a short break and then moved into discussion of special education funding models. Chair Richter said members should contact Schauer directly with ideas for additional data views and noted that the committee would continue its work on funding and possible model changes. Brandon Bomback of Grand Forks Public Schools began a presentation arguing that the special education funding formula, especially the weighting factor, should be reconsidered if the committee wants a system that better reflects accountability and student needs. He said his comments were based on the perspective of a larger district and focused on the special education weighting factor rather than other parts of the formula. The remainder of his presentation was not included in the excerpt.