Video & Transcript : 'freedom' :

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ID

Idaho 2026 Regular Session

Legislative Session Day 36 Feb 16th, 2026

Idaho Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It's about neighbors serving neighbors and protecting the freedoms that make our community strong.
  • those men and women who have served in the past and served today in the military that defend these freedoms
  • pray that we'll never take them for granted and that we will do all in our power to maintain these freedoms
  • pray that we will not take them for granted, and that we will do all in our power to maintain these freedoms
  • We pray for the youth of Idaho, and we pray for the coming generation that they can live in freedom and
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Amika Motta, Executive Director, Sisters Warriors Freedom Coalition, Saul Mercado, Reentry Coordinator
  • Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition has had regular visits to the institution, with town hall presentations
  • CDCR met with the Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition at both institutions to identify space programming
  • Now we'll move forward to Amika Mota, Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition.
  • , to consider when somebody has been abused by the state, that in return for that, they get their freedom
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Floor Session Mar 24th, 2025

California House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Things like freedom. We all know about that. Democracy. I think we're big on that.
  • you know what those sacrifices I think we can all agree echo today, reminding us that the fight for freedom
  • Draw inspiration from the courage of those who fought for freedom, and may we continue to champion the
  • And if you fight for basic freedoms including rights for privacy, safety, and one's self-identity, and
  • You deserve joy, respect, and the freedom to live fully as yourself.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session May 24th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Academic freedom is not an abstract luxury.
  • Our universities need to be hubs of freedom of thought and freedom of expression.
  • If Texas is about anything, it's about freedom and opportunity.
  • It's about protecting religious freedom.
  • It's about protecting religious freedom.
Bills: SB37 , SJR84 , SJR87 , SJR27 , SB8 , SB10 , SB227 , SB261 , SB15 , SB12 , SB25 , SB57 , SB127 , SB293 , SB441 , SB3059 , SB512 , SB241 , SB1718 , SB140 , SB2055 , SB2075 , SB2018 , SB1534 , SB1567 , SB785 , SB1233 , SB1580 , SB1663 , SB413 , SB447 , SB519 , SB467 , SB1579 , SB1191 , SB1021 , SB1838 , SB2807 , SB2835 , SB546 , SB2121 , SB2167 , SB2035 , SB2024 , SB1032 , SB1049 , SB1266 , SB1400 , SB1302 , SB401 , SB1596 , SB1281 , SB1242 , SB1343 , SB310 , SB1346 , SB2753 , SB2703 , SB2221 , SB1719 , SB2177 , SB800 , SB790 , SB748 , SB571 , SB1957 , SB1923 , SB1896 , SB1760 , SB1335 , SB2368 , SB2477 , SB2587 , SB2972 , SB2986 , SB2965 , SB1563 , SB1467 , SB1164 , SB1137 , SB614 , SB705 , SB961 , SB918 , SB955 , SB869 , SB850 , SB863 , SB1610 , SB1055 , SB2206 , SB457 , SB2337 , SB1362 , SCR9 , SB2405 , SB2406 , SB2407 , SB2166 , SB2148 , SB535 , SB777 , SB827 , SB1141 , SB1330 , SB1352 , SB1664 , SB1862 , SB1936 , SB1453 , SB1448 , SB1398 , SB2137 , SB2111 , SB53 , SB226 , SB1677 , SB1723 , SB1839 , SB36 , SB38 , SB815 , SB1856 , SB552 , SB646 , SB37 , SJR84 , SJR87 , SJR27 , SB8 , SB10 , SB227 , SB261 , SB15 , SB12 , SB25 , SB57 , SB127 , SB293 , SB441 , SB3059 , SB512 , SB241 , SB1718 , SB140 , SB2055 , SB2075 , SB2018 , SB1534 , SB1567 , SB785 , SB1233 , SB1580 , SB1663 , SB413 , SB447 , SB519 , SB467 , SB1579 , SB1191 , SB1021 , SB1838 , SB2807 , SB2835 , SB546 , SB2121 , SB2167 , SB2035 , SB2024 , SB1032 , SB1049 , SB1266 , SB1400 , SB1302 , SB401 , SB1596 , SB1281 , SB1242 , SB1343 , SB310 , SB1346 , SB2753 , SB2703 , SB2221 , SB1719 , SB2177 , SB800 , SB790 , SB748 , SB571 , SB1957 , SB1923 , SB1896 , SB1760 , SB1335 , SB2368 , SB2477 , SB2587 , SB2972 , SB2986 , SB2965 , SB1563 , SB1467 , SB1164 , SB1137 , SB614 , SB705 , SB961 , SB918 , SB955 , SB869 , SB850 , SB863 , SB1610 , SB1055 , SB2206 , SB457 , SB2337 , SB1362 , SCR9 , HB5560 , HB762 , HB 107 , HB 114 , HB300 , HB138 , HB4386 , HB2495 , HB581 , HB3348 , HB5323
Summary: The House convened, established a quorum, heard an invocation and pledges, and approved several routine motions, including excuses for absent members, permission for committees to meet while the House was in session, and postponements of some bills. The chamber also received a Senate message listing measures passed by the Senate and adopted a memorial resolution honoring the 21 victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, with remarks entered into the House Journal after a moment of silence. The House then took up a long third-reading calendar and passed a series of Senate bills on topics including criminal justice and corrections sunset provisions (SB 2405, 2406, 2407), election equipment testing (SB 2166), electric grid reliability and attack-preparedness exercises (SB 2148), firefighter collective bargaining (SB 777), DFPS and foster care procedures (SB 1141 and SB 1398), Medicare durable medical equipment billing (SB 1330), property tax administration (SB 1453), probate cleanup and record transfers (SB 1448 and SB 1839), mental health filing procedures (SB 53), school residency for children in safety placements (SB 226), diabetes-related amputation study (SB 1677), rapid DNA analysis (SB 1723), utility rate transparency and capacity cost recovery (SB 1664 and SB 1856), community supervision eligibility (SB 552 postponed), and other measures. Several bills passed with broad support, while others drew notable opposition and narrower margins, including SB 777, SB 2137, SB 2111, SB 1677, SB 1936, SB 1453, and SB 38. Two bills drew especially extensive debate. SB 2148, dealing with electricity supply chain reliability and tabletop exercises for critical facilities, was discussed as a grid-security measure aimed at coordinating utilities, law enforcement, ERCOT, and the PUC in the event of physical attacks; it passed unanimously. SB 1936, changing how LSD is measured for criminal prosecution from dosage-based to weight-based calculations, prompted extended discussion about lab consistency, carrier mediums, and fairness in charging, with supporters saying it would help crime labs and law enforcement and opponents warning it could distort penalties depending on the medium used; it passed 108-26. The House also passed SB 36, creating a Homeland Security Division within DPS, after questions about overlap with TDEM and the cost of adding personnel. Late in the day, the House debated SB 38 on eviction procedures, with supporters saying it targeted squatters and streamlined removal of unauthorized occupants, and opponents arguing it would make evictions too easy and worsen homelessness; it passed 85-44. The chamber also began debate on SB 37, a major higher-education governance bill that would expand governing-board oversight of curriculum, hiring, and faculty senates; members raised concerns about academic freedom, faculty governance, and the impact on humanities programs, and debate was still underway at the end of the transcript.
AR

Arkansas 2026 Regular Session

HOUSE CONVENES Apr 22nd, 2026

Arkansas All Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Lord, we thank you for those who came before us who gave us this great freedom.
  • We thank you for those who fought for this freedom and those who are stationed all over the world fighting
  • Thank you for those who came before us who gave us this great freedom.
  • We thank you for those who fought for this freedom and those who are stationed all over the world fighting
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/18/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Thank You for the privilege to live in a country where we know and celebrate freedom and liberty.
  • Marine; a former Marine of 21 years, and a veteran of two Gulf Wars, Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom
  • together and convey the sentiment as well as the sorrow when it comes to any loss of life, I offered the Freedom
  • Highway would stay there and align with the principles that we both can agree is important, which is freedom
CO

Colorado 2026 Regular Session

Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 035 Feb 18th, 2026

Colorado House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And when you say that, then I get excited because that means freedom.
  • And when you say that, then I get excited because that means freedom.
  • And when you say that, then I get excited because that means freedom.
  • , and I'm all about the means freedom, and I'm all about the freedom,<00:42:50.240><c> and</c><00:42:
  • </c> freedom. It's another way of saying it. freedom. It's another way of saying it.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Motion to take up HF5084, proposing an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution 5/13/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We know what the data says about support for reproductive freedom, bodily autonomy, and the right to
  • And when we dig in, reproductive health care, reproductive freedom is important.
  • It is complex and freedom is important.
  • I fight for their freedom of thought and the freedom to be able to one day maybe stand on this House
  • of thought and I fight for their freedom of thought and the<01:33:02.080><c> freedom</c><01:33:02.400
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Education Policy and Administration (01/28/2026)

Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • Remember, the education freedom account, you can't be in your public school and in your education freedom
  • Remember, the education freedom account, you can't be in your public school and in your education freedom
  • Remember, the education freedom account, you can't be in your public school and in your education freedom
  • Remember, the education freedom account, you can't be in your public school and in your education freedom
  • </c> freedom account to be? freedom account to be?
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

JDC Informational Briefing 09-18-2025

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • These are the scores from Freedom House, which has been scoring and rating regimes since the 1970s.
  • Freedom House still considers us a democracy, but there has been a decline in the Freedom House score
  • </c><00:29:49.600><c> has</c><00:29:49.840><c> been</c> from Freedom House, which has been from Freedom
  • Freedom House still still a democracy.
  • </c><00:30:07.039><c> House</c> been a decline in the Freedom House been a decline in the Freedom House
Summary: The Judiciary Committee held an informational briefing with Professor Colin Moore on democratic norms and their erosion in the United States, with a focus on what that could mean for Hawaii. Chair Carl Rhodes introduced the topic and the professor, noting the briefing was livestreamed and could be rescheduled if technical problems arose. Moore defined democratic norms as unwritten guardrails that make written constitutional rules work in practice, emphasizing two core norms from political science: mutual toleration, meaning acceptance of political opponents as legitimate, and institutional forbearance, meaning restraint in using legal powers to the maximum for partisan gain. Moore used historical examples to show how norms develop and erode, including George Washington’s resignation, the Alien and Sedition Acts, the contested 1800 election, Franklin Roosevelt’s court-packing plan, and Watergate. He argued that democracies usually erode gradually rather than through sudden coups, often through leaders who reject opponents’ legitimacy, tolerate political violence, restrict civil liberties, or attack the press. He said the United States is vulnerable because of its strong presidency, an 18th-century constitutional design that did not anticipate modern political parties or a neutral civil service, and because polarization has encouraged “constitutional hardball” and retaliation. He cited comparative examples such as Hungary, Turkey, and other countries that slid toward authoritarianism over time, and said the U.S. has been rated a flawed democracy by outside indexes. Moore said the erosion predates Donald Trump, though he believes Trump has accelerated it, and pointed to recent actions and rhetoric as moving beyond ceremony into government practice. He also warned that Congress has not consistently checked executive power and that public willingness to excuse anti-democratic behavior from preferred candidates is troubling. The briefing ended with Moore turning to federalism and Hawaii, arguing that the state depends heavily on federal funding for health care, schools, housing, and infrastructure, and that delays or disruptions from an unstable federal government could create serious local harm even if no law is formally broken.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Transportation Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • An act of valor that helped turn the tide in the war and secure the freedoms we cherish today.
  • that you came in and you talked a little bit about your family that gave everything to preserve the freedoms
  • that you came in and you talked a little bit about your family that gave everything to observe the freedoms
Summary: The Joint Committee on Transportation held a hybrid hearing with House Chair Jim Arciero and Senate Co-Chair Brendan Crighton presiding. The committee heard testimony on two bills. The first, House Bill 4723, would designate a bridge in honor of the Ferreira Brothers. Christopher Pereira gave extensive family testimony describing the brothers’ World War II service, their postwar community work, and the family’s immigrant background. He said the bridge naming would be a fitting tribute, and noted support from the Chumsford Board of Selectmen. Representative Rodney Elliott also spoke in support as a co-sponsor, praising the family’s military and civic service. Representative Vanaugh Howard was called but did not testify due to technical issues. The second bill, House 4691, was described by Representative Steven Hawkins as a bipartisan effort with Representative Pease to address and commemorate the harms suffered by veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Hawkins said the measure recognizes the sacrifices of affected veterans and should be straightforward. No other testimony was offered on the bill, and no questions were raised by committee members. After hearing testimony on both bills, the committee took no recorded votes during the transcript. The hearing concluded with a motion to adjourn, a second, and adjournment.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Pro Forma Floor Session Feb 19th, 2026 at 12:30 pm

Washington Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • State fleeing Soviet persecution for their political, cultural, and religious beliefs, and seeking freedom
  • shows time and again that when what appears to be a superior force goes after people that yearn for freedom
  • , you can never, ever underestimate the will of that fight for that yearning of freedom.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Pro Forma Floor Session Feb 19th, 2026

Washington Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • State fleeing Soviet persecution for their political, cultural, and religious beliefs, and seeking freedom
  • shows time and again that when what appears to be a superior force goes after people that yearn for freedom
  • , you can never, ever underestimate the will of that fight for that yearning of freedom.
Summary: The Senate approved the previous day’s Journal and referred committee reports and newly introduced measures as designated. Among the introductions, Senate Bill 6354 was read and sent to the Committee on Ways and Means. The chamber then moved to resolutions. Senate Resolution 8692, recognizing Motorcycle Safety Awareness Week/Month, was adopted after remarks emphasizing motorcycle safety, the charitable work of riders, and the need for drivers to watch for motorcycles and use caution. Senate Resolution 8675, recognizing the shared democratic values of Washington State and Ukraine, was also adopted. Supportive remarks highlighted Ukraine’s endurance, the impact of the war on civilians and soldiers, and solidarity with Ukrainian Americans and the people of Ukraine. After adopting the Ukraine resolution, the Senate welcomed members and representatives of the United Ukrainian community in the gallery. The session then adjourned without objection until 12:30 p.m. on Friday, February 20, 2026.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Elections Committee Aug 19th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • I’m co-founder of Freedom Angels and in opposition.
  • Hi, Tara Thornton, co-founder of Freedom Angels. I actually didn’t have anything prepared to say.
  • I'm co-founder, Freedom Angels and opposition.
  • And we are a reproductive freedom state, and voters deserve to vote on that. Thank you.
  • Kesh Kumar with Lighthouse Public Affairs on behalf of Reproductive Freedom for All.
Summary: The Assembly Elections Committee met on August 19, 2025, to consider ACA 8, SB 280, and an informational hearing on AB 604. The meeting began with several failed motions to adjourn, to read public comments into the record, and to recess so members could review the roughly 16,000 public comments submitted through the committee portal. The chair emphasized the hearing’s expedited format, transparency measures, and rules limiting witness testimony, and noted a letter from Speaker Rivas authorizing Assemblymember Berman to present ACA 8. ACA 8, described by supporters as the “Election Rigging Response Act,” would place before voters a temporary congressional redistricting plan tied to AB 604 and triggered only if another state, especially Texas, adopts a partisan mid-decade redistricting. Supporters, including Assemblymember Berman, labor groups, CTA, Planned Parenthood affiliates, SEIU, and other allied organizations, argued the measure was a response to partisan gerrymandering elsewhere and a defense of democracy, with voters having the final say in a November 4, 2025 special election. Opponents, including current and former redistricting commissioners, good-government groups, business and taxpayer organizations, and many members of the public, argued the proposal undermines California’s independent redistricting model, was rushed without adequate public review, could cost roughly $200 million or more, and would invite litigation and partisan manipulation. The committee also debated a proposed amendment that would bar legislators who voted for ACA 8 from later running for Congress in districts adopted under the measure. After extended procedural disputes, the committee voted to lay the amendment on the table. The hearing then continued with extensive public testimony, overwhelmingly divided between strong support and strong opposition, but the transcript provided does not show a final committee vote on ACA 8 or SB 280 before the excerpt ends.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Public Safety Committee Apr 22nd, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • AB 82 is an assault on freedom of speech and press.
  • Raiden Nervin, on behalf of Freedom... Strong opposition.
  • Raiden Nervin on behalf of Freedom for Youth in opposition.
  • Freedom for Youth Advocacy, lead program, strongly opposed.
  • Raiden Nervin, Freedom for Youth Student Advocacy Team, strong opposition.
Summary: The committee heard AB 82, which would expand privacy and safety protections for patients and providers of reproductive and gender-affirming care. The author and supporters said the bill is needed because of rising harassment, doxing, and threats, and because sensitive health data could be used by hostile actors; opponents argued it would create constitutional problems, enable abuse of safe-at-home protections, and improperly shield providers and records from scrutiny. Public testimony was heavily divided, with many advocates in support and many privacy, civil liberties, and anti-trafficking or sex-based policy groups in opposition. The bill was moved on a due pass recommendation and remained on call. The committee then heard AB 331, which would clarify that county election certification is a ministerial duty, prohibit misleading ballot return envelopes, and require voter information guides to be delivered to jails in an acceptable format. The Department of Justice and several good-government groups supported the measure, the Secretary of State had no position after amendments, and a committee member noted ongoing concerns but supported it after the changes. The bill passed on a do pass recommendation to Appropriations and was placed on call. AB 1178 followed, proposing to protect undercover peace officers’ names, images, and likenesses in public records while preserving disclosure of sustained misconduct records. Law enforcement and public safety groups supported the bill as a needed safety measure, while journalists, transparency advocates, and civil liberties groups opposed it, saying existing law already protects officers and the new language could lead to overbroad withholding. After discussion about the scope of undercover status and the need for judicial discretion, the bill passed as amended to Appropriations. The committee also adopted a consent calendar. Later, AB 981 was heard, creating a five-county pilot program requiring intelligent speed assistance devices for certain reckless driving convictions. Supporters, including traffic safety advocates and crash victims, said the bill could reduce repeat speeding and save lives; opponents raised concerns about cost, installer oversight, liability for automakers, and the breadth of the pilot. The bill passed as amended to Appropriations. AB 22, which would repeal Proposition 57 and restrict release of sexually violent predators and certain sex offenders, drew strong opposition from youth justice, public defender, and civil liberties groups who said it would be unconstitutional and harmful; the chair recommended no, no motion was made, and the bill was held. Finally, AB 897, a squatter-removal bill, was presented with the author arguing it would protect property owners through a faster due-process process; the transcript cuts off during early support testimony and does not show a final action on that measure.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, March 26, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Eighty years later, his name remains a symbol of the price of our freedom.
  • Americans prosperity and freedom this Americans prosperity and freedom this unnecessary<04:13:59.439>
  • The freedom and privileges we enjoy today are because of those who came before us.
  • The freedoms we enjoy today are because they refused to sit idly by.
  • </c><05:28:54.600><c> we</c> course of our nation the freedoms we course of our nation the freedoms we
Bills: HJR75
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Cheyenne's piece titled 250 Years of Freedom reflects a deep appreciation for our nation's history and
  • As chair of the abortion access and rights task force of the reproductive freedom caucus, I'm fighting
  • Let's fight for energy freedom.
  • I like ...freedom. I don't want the government monitoring everything we're doing.
  • Let's provide real American health care freedom.
Bills: HR915 , HB7401 , HB2478 , HR1381
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Mar 4th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Washington House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • . ...held superior to our constitutional right to freedom of expression, of religion, and practice of
  • First Amendment religious freedoms are really absolute.
  • We have to protect religious freedoms. We have to protect religious freedoms. Please vote yes.
  • We need a lot more passionate dedication to the principles of freedom.
  • We need a lot more passionate dedication to the principles of freedom.
Summary: The House took up a series of Senate bills and moved most of them quickly to third reading and final passage, often suspending the rules and adopting committee amendments without objection. Early action included Senate Bill 5944, which addresses compensation for interpreters working for L&I when appointments are canceled or missed; it passed 86-10. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5837, dealing with guardianship and supported decision-making, drew debate over a new right to counsel in guardianship cases and concerns about expanding civil legal obligations, but it passed 73-23. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6197, a plumbers enforcement/discipline measure tied to task force work on wages and the underground economy, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6019, fixing a loophole in home care worker parity law, also passed unanimously, as did Senate Bill 6011, which extends authority for Court of Appeals bailiffs to assess threats against judges and staff, though members noted concerns about access to non-conviction data. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6058, aimed at improving Labor and Industries’ ability to address wage theft complaints and backlog, passed 96-0 after House amendments. Substitute Senate Bill 5923, allowing an island hospital in Skagit County to become a critical access hospital, passed 96-0 amid support for rural health care. Senate Bill 5994, which changes how timber tax revenue is distributed so school districts are not penalized when levies fail, also passed 96-0. Substitute Senate Bill 6076, streamlining public utility district procurement and raising spending thresholds, passed 95-1 after a capital budget amendment. The House then moved to second reading of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5925, a major bill expanding the Attorney General’s authority to issue civil investigative demands in constitutional and discrimination-related matters. The bill prompted extensive debate over civil liberties, due process, and the potential for government overreach. Amendment 2160, which would have required clear and convincing evidence before a CID could issue, was rejected 38-48. Amendment 2149, creating a right to cure before a CID, was also rejected. Amendment 2150, requiring assistant attorney general approval and a reasonable suspicion standard, failed 38-48. Amendment 2151, requiring the Attorney General personally to approve CIDs in writing, failed as well. However, several narrowing amendments were adopted, including limits on scope and relevance (2288), a prohibition on CIDs to federal agencies (2289), a ban on sharing CID-derived information for criminal law enforcement purposes (2290), and a requirement that the Attorney General’s office consult with other agencies in certain overlapping investigations (2154 was rejected, but later amendments continued). Other proposed protections, such as fee-shifting for successful CID challenges and reimbursement when a CID produces no action, were debated at length but not adopted in the portion of the transcript provided.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

Finance Division II (05/23/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • So this also is amending an existing component of the, uh, freedom count legislation, and essentially
  • </c><00:27:33.760><c> count</c> component of the uh freedom count component of the uh freedom count legislation
  • </c> applications for the education freedom applications for the education freedom account<00:31:08.000
  • And I think when you open up the door so widely to expand who is eligible for these education freedom
  • account um like these education freedom account um like values.<00:42:13.040><c> uh</c><00:42:13.200
Summary: The committee held a work session on SB 145, which would require sexual assault evidence kits to be delivered to the state forensic lab within seven business days and analyzed more promptly. Pamela Kyle of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence said the bill was developed after survivor concerns and extensive discussions with the Departments of Safety and Justice. She explained that most agencies already deliver kits quickly, but some kits sit for months, and the bill is intended to add structure without penalties while preserving chain of custody. Members discussed the use of common carriers or courier services for transport, the need for clear rules, and whether carriers would know what they were transporting. Representative Papovich offered amendment 2025-2301H to remove the reimbursement program for police shipping costs, arguing it would add administrative overhead and was unnecessary. The amendment was adopted on a roll call vote, and the committee then voted OTPA on SB 145 as amended, with members voting yes on the roll call. The committee then opened a work session on SB 295, and the sponsor presented a replace-all amendment intended to simplify and clarify the Education Freedom Account bill without changing its purpose. The amendment would remove income-cap language, define priority enrollment groups, establish an enrollment cap for the EFA program, and create rolling enrollment rules. It would set a 10,000-student cap for the 2025-2026 school year, allow the cap to increase by 25% if enrollment exceeds 90% of the prior cap, and ensure current participants can remain enrolled. The amendment also provides that certain sections would later be repealed once the Department of Education certifies that applications have not exceeded the cap for two consecutive school years. The sponsor walked through the amendment section by section, explaining that the bill is structured in two phases: one while caps exist and another after they are no longer needed.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • We have limits on our freedoms to protect society at large.
  • </c><00:49:18.319><c> of</c> Everyone has the power or the freedom of Everyone has the power or the freedom
  • Everyone<00:49:20.319><c> has</c><00:49:20.480><c> the</c><00:49:20.640><c> freedom</c><00:49:20.880>
  • <c> for</c><00:49:21.040><c> religion,</c> Everyone has the freedom for religion, Everyone has the freedom
  • the</c><00:49:28.319><c> society</c><00:49:28.800><c> at</c> freedoms to protect the society at freedoms