Transcript Highlights:

• So in the one case study, we had a homeowner buy a home with attorney's fees included would have been
• So it now would allow attorney's fees for all...
• So it now would allow attorney's fees for all garage keeper acts.
• The landlord-tenant code specifically says that you should not be allowed attorney's fees for anything
• , provide that the fees do not exceed the impact fee that would otherwise be imposed by Kent County or

Bills: HB89, HB328, HB344, HB365, HB283, HB89, HB328, HB344, HB365, HB283

Keywords: home improvement, consumer protection, consumer fraud, dispute resolution, mediation, contractor registration, home repair, renovation, homeowner, building contractor, construction fraud, treble damages, attorney fees, Department of Justice, Division of Consumer Protection, Department of Labor, good faith, unfair trade practices, Delaware, regulations

Summary: The Senate Elections and Government Affairs Committee met in hybrid format, approved the June 10 draft minutes, and then heard a long agenda of bills. HB 89 (home improvement fraud dispute resolution) was presented as a consumer protection measure developed with DOJ to address contractor fraud, especially against vulnerable homeowners; members voiced support and asked to be added as sponsors. HB 283 updated realty transfer tax exemptions to use gender-neutral “spouses” language and add a direct grandparent-to-grandchild transfer exemption; it drew supportive public comment. HS1 for HB 390 would let DelDOT choose electronic-only bidding for projects, remove newspaper bid-opening notices, and clarify bidding records, with no opposition raised. HB 328/H.A. 2 modernizes the Register of Regulations statute, keeps newspaper distribution requirements, and delays some effective dates to 2027; it was described as a technical update. HB 365 would create the Delaware Indigenous Affairs Commission, prompting supportive testimony from Indigenous community members and some discussion about representation and internal tribal اختلافs, but no formal opposition. HB 423 would automatically enroll new state employees in the 457B deferred compensation plan unless they opt out, with exclusions for collective bargaining units and implementation tied to payroll readiness; it was presented as a retirement-savings measure. SS1 for SB 342 would modernize the Delaware Motion Picture and Television Development Commission to support a broader film/media incentive package, with support from the Delaware Arts Alliance and a request to help attract productions to Delaware. The committee also heard SB 331, a cleanup bill on garagekeeper liens for manufactured housing and related assets. The sponsor and an attorney explained it as clarifying who can recover funds and attorney’s fees in lien sales, but the Chief Magistrate and the manufactured housing association said the issue should be addressed more carefully and possibly in another section of code; they were open to further work. HB 436 would update the Smyrna charter, including school impact fees, election challenge procedures, vacancy rules, domicile standards, Board of Elections terms, and meeting schedules. HS1 for HB 376 made technical and organizational changes to the Millville charter, including a tiebreaker for municipal elections and a property tax cap, with the town solicitor saying there was little substantive change. HB 460 would require New Castle County municipalities to submit permit data monthly rather than on a much slower schedule, limited to closed permits with certificates of occupancy, to improve property assessment data; it was presented as part of broader reassessment/data-quality efforts. Public comment was heard on several items, especially HB 365 and SS1 for SB 342. Indigenous speakers supported the commission as a way to preserve heritage, improve representation, and create a formal seat at the table. The Delaware Arts Alliance supported the film commission modernization bill as part of a broader creative-economy plan. No recorded votes were taken on the individual bills in the transcript, and the meeting ended with a unanimous motion to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• What kind of fees are they putting on it? Currently, we refer to Office of Debt Recovery.
• I don't know what the Attorney General's fees are.
• Reinstatement fees up to 30 days, $75; 31 to 90 days, $150; over 90 days, $300.
• So these are insurance lapse reinstatement fees.
• They have to pay collection fees and 15% from ODR.

Bills: HCR32, HCR53, HCR60, HCR68, HB582, HB730, HB762

Keywords: Saint Claude Avenue Bridge, Port of New Orleans, backup motors, infrastructure, traffic management, oversized vehicles, permitting, economic impact, transportation, local regulations, Louisiana economy, Interstate 12, I-12, Interstate 55, I-55 interchange, DOTD, Department of Transportation and Development, D.R.I.V.E. Initiative, highway infrastructure, transportation planning

Bills: HB316, HB549, HB646, HB752, HB824, HB873, HB1129, HB1157, HB1170

Keywords: literacy, adolescent, teacher education, high-dosage tutoring, reading intervention, workforce development, training programs, Bayou Growth Opportunity, funding, employment, skills gap, qualified employer, credential recognition, government growth limit, recurring revenue, state finance, Louisiana Income Tax Elimination Fund, fiscal responsibility, legislative sessions, regular sessions

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 3 is a small fee-per-permit fee reduction.
• exceeded the fee for 15 circuits.
• Section 3 is a small fee-per-permit fee reduction.
• exceeded the fee for 15 circuits.
• updates the cross references to the fee updates the cross references to the fee schedules<00:41:

Bills: HF4598, HF4884, HF3732

Keywords: workers' compensation, Minnesota workers' compensation, Workers' Compensation Advisory Council, reinsurance association, Workers' Compensation Reinsurance Association, WCRA, occupational disease, presumption, first responders, firefighter cancer, PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, police officer, paramedic, emergency medical technician, correctional officer, security counselor, public safety dispatcher, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability

Bills: HCR7, HB76, HB84, HB132, HB265, HB275, HB322, HB635, HB808, HB883, HB1054

Keywords: juvenile justice, electronic monitoring, annual report, supervision outcomes, data transparency, inmate release, notification, law enforcement, victims, public safety, hit-and-run, crime of violence, felony, sentencing, battery, sound, intentional harm, physical pain, hearing impairment, video voyeurism

Bills: HB78, HB112, HB190, HB292, HB410, HB427, HB437

Keywords: jurisdiction, city court, Bogalusa, civil law, court limit, Louisiana, child relocation, custody, mileage measurement, co-parenting, Louisiana law, software, computer programs, standard of care, liability, design, development, manufacture, sale, security deposit

Transcript Highlights:

• paying an someone if I'm the one that's paying an someone if I'm the one that's paying an arbitrator's fee
• then do do you think I arbitrator's fee then do do you think I arbitrator's fee then do do you think
• And so, you know, they do charge a fee for the background do charge a fee for the background do charge
• a fee for the background check.
• to support field licensing fee to support field licensing fee to support field enforcement.

Bills: SB 1, HB 500, SB 1, HB 1400, HB 1094, HB 365, HB 1109, HB 647, HB 500

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• by Patterson relating to the removal of certain restrictions imposed on driver's life. authorizing a fee
• So it's typically fee-for-service reimbursement. So similar to the Medicaid program.
• Medicaid managed care organization that is receiving three enrollment fees for the same person.
• Those are actually the high volume users on the on the and honestly one of the things that has happened
• their medicare cannot cover all of their uh, they're uh, they can't they cover their nursing home fees

Bills: SB1, HB500, SB1, HB1400, HB 1094, HB365, HB 1109, HB647, HB500

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, state budget, mental health funding, education funding, infrastructure improvements, public safety, groundwater, water conservation, financial assistance, Texas Water Development Board, innovation fund, local conservation districts, transportation protection agreement, funeral services, insurance exemption

Transcript Highlights:

• Yeah, so we first have to apply for a license, pay your fee, and after you get your license, you're allowed

Bills: HB194, SB87, SB237

Keywords: healthcare, advanced practice nursing, nurse collaboration, medical board, nursing board, committee structure, midwifery, licensed midwives, State Board of Midwifery, licensure fees, professional liability insurance, complaints investigation, emergency care plan, out-of-hospital care, hemp, hemp beverages, psychoactive cannabinoids, psychoactive hemp products, delta-8 THC, delta-9 THC

Transcript Highlights:

• by $30 for each dissolution filing fee by $30 for each dissolution filing fee and<00:38:27.480><
• , without premarital education fee.
• These amounts will not increase the overall filing fee for any of the applicants.
• This is the first adjustment to these fees in 22 years, and it's...
• the amount collected from these fees the amount collected from these fees<00:43:21.640> was<00

Bills: HF1027, HF101, HF1021

Keywords: mortgage foreclosure, redemption, foreclosure surplus, sheriff's sale, junior lienholder, mortgagor, homeowner protections, loss mitigation, dual tracking, foreclosure redemption period, certificate of redemption, certificate of sale, sheriff, county recorder, registrar of titles, homeownership center, lien priority, real property, foreclosure by advertisement, surplus funds

Bills: HB386, HB387, HB388, HB389, HB386, HB387, HB388, HB389

Keywords: HB386, food tax, grocery tax, sales tax reduction, use tax, Education Trust Fund, state revenue trigger, tax cut, consumer tax relief, Alabama sales tax, Alabama use tax, groceries, retail tax, revenue growth threshold, county and municipal tax, fiscal trigger, sales tax, food taxation, local government, financial growth

Bills: SB137, SB164, SB165, SB49

Keywords: sewer, wastewater, public service commission, PSC, utility regulation, private utility, regulated utility, affiliated system, consolidation, rate jurisdiction, rate setting, wastewater management entity, common ownership, control, Jefferson County Board of Health, local constitutional amendment, public utilities, Alabama Code Title 37, Alabama Code Title 22, certification

Transcript Highlights:

• , and punitive damages, because the current law does not provide attorney's fees.
• I want to be clear: HB 133 does not eliminate fines or fees.
• King, can you get clarity on the fee assessment for our volunteer fire companies?
• We recognize the impact of fees on people with limited means.
• Does that also include things like the port security fee? Sir, thank you.

Bills: HJR11, HB59, HB418, HB342, HB408, HB409, HB133, HB134, HB414, HB355

Keywords: HOPE Court, homeless court, housing instability, homelessness, poverty elimination, problem-solving court, community court, diversion program, criminal justice reform, reentry, warrants, fines and fees, low-level offenses, housing access, public safety, recidivism, Delaware Judiciary, DSHA, DHSS, DELJIS

Summary: The Senate Judiciary Committee met and heard presentations on several bills. House Amendment 1 to Senate Substitute 1 for House Bill 145 would restrict government use of reverse keyword searches, generally prohibiting reverse keyword court orders and voluntary requests, with a narrow exception for Class A violent felony investigations and rules on notice, deletion, and inadmissibility of unlawfully obtained evidence. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 368, with House Amendment 1, would limit Delaware law enforcement and the Department of Correction’s participation in federal civil immigration enforcement, especially regarding civil immigration warrants and detainers, while preserving exceptions for serious offenses and valid judicial processes; the Department of Correction said it had no operational or fiscal impact and supported the exclusions, and an ACLU-affiliated witness testified in support. House Substitute 1 for House Bill 427 would allow certain 16- and 17-year-olds to participate in hunting and target practice without direct adult supervision if they have parental permission, hunter education, and a valid Delaware hunting license. House Bill 355, the “Speak Your Truth Act,” would expand anti-SLAPP-style protections for survivors of sexual assault, discrimination, and harassment by raising the burden in defamation suits and allowing attorney’s fees and damages; advocates from the National Women’s Defense League and the Speak Your Truth movement supported it. House Bill 134 would increase penalties for repeat animal cruelty offenders and lengthen animal ownership bans. The committee also heard House Bill 133, as amended, which would create a hardship waiver process allowing courts to waive fines and fees for defendants who cannot afford them, while preserving restitution and exempting certain traffic-related penalties and victim compensation assessments. The administration said the bill is intended to address uncollectable debt and noted millions in outstanding fines and fees, while local government and police representatives raised concerns about lost revenue, administrative burden, and consistency; the Fines and Fees Justice Center supported the measure. Committee members asked about how the waiver funding would affect local governments, volunteer fire companies, and related fees, and the administration said the $5 million budgeted this year would cover the waiver costs and be treated as an annual expense going forward. No committee votes were taken during the excerpted discussion, but the chair indicated that bills ready for action would be circulated for signature or moved to the floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• So only 10% of e-filings are assessed this fee.
• This fee being assessed.
• , this would result in additional fees being assessed.
• , continue to be assessed this fee.
• Additional fees, well, defendants are not paying this fee directly in most cases.

Bills: HB75, SB134, SB201, SB258, SB288, SB313, SB320, SB321, SB325, SB339, SB345, SB393, SB422, SB440, SB470, SB487, SB523

Keywords: HB75, Act 963, gaming, casino gaming, promotional play, promotional wagers, slot machine proceeds, net gaming proceeds, gross revenue, taxable revenue, gaming operators, gaming tax, Louisiana gaming, gaming revenue deduction, casino tax, gaming promotion, revenue cap, pilot program, child sexual abuse materials, sexting

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee heard and advanced a series of bills, mostly on juvenile justice, gaming background checks, corrections, and criminal procedure. Early in the meeting, the committee reported favorably SB 258 on juvenile traffic violations, SB 321 on electronic bonds, SB 134 on child sexual abuse material/sexting-related offenses involving juveniles, and HB 75 on promotional play for racetracks after adopting an amendment narrowing the bill’s application. The committee also reported favorably SB 422 on unsupervised probation for certain fourth-offense OWI cases, SB 440 on the Renaissance District board membership, SB 393 on explosives regulation after correcting a bill-number mix-up, SB 339 on gaming-industry background checks, SB 325 on excluding certain persons from sports wagering, and SB 288 on criminal history background checks. Most of these measures were described as technical cleanups or modernization efforts and drew support from law enforcement, district attorneys, or industry groups, with little or no opposition. The most substantial debate centered on SB 201, which would change how Louisiana handles juvenile homicide sentencing, including first- and second-degree murder cases and review of old death sentences converted to life terms. Supporters from the Attorney General’s office said the bill would align sentencing procedures with existing Supreme Court law and give courts a more neutral framework. Opponents from the SPLC and the Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights argued it would weaken the safeguard that life without parole for children should be reserved for the rarest cases, expand exposure to juvenile life-without-parole sentences, and raise constitutional concerns. After an amendment was adopted, the committee voted 7-3 to report SB 201 favorably as amended. The committee also heard SB 523 on clemency and sentencing considerations for defendants who are victims of domestic abuse, human trafficking, or sexual assault. Supporters said it would create a path to pardon or commutation and allow victimization to be considered at sentencing, while several survivor-advocacy groups opposed the bill’s pre-sentence investigation requirement, warning it could introduce biased or harmful information and that the bill did not go far enough to fix sentencing problems. After testimony from the Board of Pardons and Parole and the Sheriff’s Association, the committee reported SB 523 favorably as amended. It also reported SB 320 on DNA detection and rape-kit data reporting, SB 470 on pregnant women in custody and shackling during delivery, and SB 345 requiring annual OJJ reporting, with members noting confidentiality concerns that may need amendment later. The final bill taken up in the excerpt was SB 313, which would bar clerks and vendors from charging additional electronic filing fees in criminal and traffic cases, but the transcript cuts off before action on that measure.

Transcript Highlights:

• Let's say da dah da da Way there will be some an annual fee to the producer.
• up that tab and cover that. $100,000 salary and benefit, and since it's being paid for by taxes or fees
• My understanding is that it's a net zero physical impact, but even though they'll be charged a fee to
• It has a lot of shells, fines, fees, and regulations like we've talked about.
• We didn't talk about all the septic tape users. How's it going to affect them?

Bills: HB3005, HB3007, HB3403, HB1907, HB3175, HB3986, HB3466, HB3411, HB4246

Keywords: climatology, emergency declaration, Oklahoma Climatological Survey, environment, weather data, public policy, state governance, natural resources, advisory councils, sunset law, water quality, hazardous waste, solid waste, radiation management, public health, biosolids, land application, environmental quality, agriculture, wastewater treatment

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment also says that the fee applies only until the appropriate local agency has inspected to
• towing or cleanup; and, two, to address the cap on how long you could have the daily administration fee
• So right now, the bill talks about up to three times the daily administrative fee that can be charged
• We would like to see it the way it is right now in current law, that the counties establish a fee and
• We would like to see it the way it is right now in current law, that the counties establish a fee and

Bills: S0018, S0028, S0260, S0848, S0934, S1014, S1102, S1264, S1566, S1622, S1724

Keywords: negligence, compensation, child welfare, law enforcement accountability, personal injury, police negligence, law enforcement, monetary compensation, civil rights, city liability, electric vehicle, EV, battery fire, lithium-ion battery, towing, wrecker service, vehicle storage, submerged vehicle, saltwater damage, fire marshal

Summary: The committee heard and advanced a wide range of bills focused on water safety, utilities, housing, transparency, and claims relief. CS/SB 848 on stormwater treatment was presented as a follow-up to prior water-quality legislation and reported favorably with one support waiver. SB 28, a claims bill for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland, was also reported favorably. CS/SB 658, a bipartisan child-drowning prevention bill for rental properties, drew extensive testimony from child advocacy and drowning-prevention groups in strong support; amendments required rental license applicants to certify compliance and removed local-government add-on authority, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/SB 18, a claims bill involving the estate of a deceased minor and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, prompted questions about settlement and responsibility but was ultimately reported favorably despite opposition from a waiver form. Several utility and infrastructure measures were considered. CS/SB 1724 would regulate municipal utility service outside city limits, limit revenue transfers, require public meetings, and cap rate differences; an amendment added gas utilities, and the bill was reported favorably after testimony from municipal utility representatives and small-county advocates. CS/SB 1014 would require municipal utilities to extend water and wastewater service to certain nearby residential properties without conditioning service on annexation; an amendment narrowed the bill to residential uses and clarified capacity and grandfathering provisions, and it passed favorably. CS/SB 1102 would allow local infrastructure surtax revenue to fund body camera programs, with an amendment making the surtax authorization prospective and requiring a new referendum; it was reported favorably. CS/SB 260 on electric-vehicle storage in towing yards was amended to focus on storage only and to tie the higher fee to the period before fire-risk inspection, then reported favorably after testimony from insurers, fire officials, and EV industry representatives. The committee also advanced education, housing, and ethics-related bills. SB 1264 would ease zoning and code barriers for small private schools and micro-schools, with supporters arguing it would expand school choice and opponents raising implementation concerns; it was reported favorably. SB 934 on Florida Keys areas of critical state concern was amended to remove a tax-exemption section that conflicted with the Live Local Act, then reported favorably. SB 1622 would provide a one-time waiver of late financial-disclosure fines under specified conditions and was reported favorably. Finally, CS/SB 1566 on local government spending and transparency required online posting of budgets and related materials, and an amendment added utility revenue reinvestment and other changes while removing DEI spending restrictions; the bill drew support for transparency but concern from small cities and counties about cost and workload, and it was reported favorably. The meeting ended with adjournment after senators recorded votes on selected bills.

Bills: HB41, HB149, SB230, SB87, SB169, SB238, SB233, HB72, HB41, HB149, SB230, SB87, SB169, SB238, SB233, HB72

Keywords: sexual offenses, penalties, rape, sodomy, criminal justice, Judicial Branch, Alabama State Bar, legal profession, commissioners, government agency, campaign finance, security measures, candidates, elected officials, legislative protection, civil procedure, statute of limitations, real estate appraisers, legal complaints, appraisal board

Transcript Highlights:

• School districts have spent thousands of dollars in legal fees without attendant transparency about the
• I've spent nearly $600,000 on legal fees. Taxpayers have no idea.
• Unexpectedly, we prevailed, and after the hearing, our legal fees were around $2,000.
• We are now approaching $600,000 in attorney fees.
• I think we're applying fees, and it's approximately $580,000.

Bills: SB205, SB582, SB625, SB1884, SB1903, SB2600, SB2617, SB2751, SB111, SB3061, SB1908

Keywords: fetal development, health curriculum, public schools, middle school health education, grade 7, grade 8, State Board of Education, school health advisory council, Texas Education Code, pregnancy, reproductive health, infertility, birth defects, prenatal development, unborn child, trimester, medically accurate instruction, age-appropriate instruction, drug and alcohol effects, lead exposure

Transcript Highlights:

• more travel increase transportation revenues such as our motor fuels tax and the vehicle registration fees
• This bill will increase safety for all transportation users in this state.
• Oil and gas severance taxes are not road user fees.
• From 2018 to 2022, the state of Texas spent over $42.6 billion in non-user fees to subsidize driving.
• Local governments spent another $37 billion in non-user fees to subsidize driving.

Bills: HJR58, HJR63, HB263, HB542, HB905, HB 1288, HB1402, HB2003, HB2262, HB2323, HB2429, HB2876, HB3019, HB263

Keywords: healthcare, insurance, elderly, retirement, benefits, transit-oriented projects, constitutional amendment, state highway fund, funding allocation, voter approval, highway fund, funding, public transportation, transit projects, transportation, local transit, fund allocation, voting rights, election integrity, ballot access

Bills: HB414, HB786, HB1041, HB1052, HB1118, HB1139, HB1182, HB1185, HB1214, HB1217, HB1231, SR63, SCR27, SB5, SB194, SB415, SB433, SB451, SB462, SB516

Keywords: healthcare, criminal convictions, employment, background checks, prohibited offenses, Medicaid, claim payments, extrapolation, provider audits, medical freedom, discrimination, access, medical intervention, child protection, confidentiality, multidisciplinary teams, child advocacy centers, public records, investigations, hospital