Video & Transcript : 'Texas State Library' :
Page 360 of 500
TX
Texas 89th 1st C.S.
Press Conference Aug 4th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We have members of the committees who have met not only in Austin to meet with the relevant state officials
- It is popular, and it's something we've been working hard to do in the state of Texas.
- There are multiple things the Texas House is working on and should be working on at this time.
- What comes next is both on that end for members out of state and any that remain in the state going forward
- We will be here tomorrow at 1 o'clock, hopefully doing the business of the state of Texas.
Summary:
The speaker, likely the House Speaker, opened by emphasizing the urgency of the special session after unprecedented flooding in the Hill Country and said legislators have been working on bills for victim funding and flood-related policy changes. He also noted other items on the governor’s call, including eliminating the STAAR test and addressing human trafficking, and stressed that the Constitution requires legislators to appear and do their duty.
He praised the members present, said the effort was bipartisan, and criticized absent members who had left the state. He said civil arrest warrants had been signed, that the House would work with DPS to locate absent members, and that the governor had offered DPS support to help establish a quorum. He said he remained hopeful Democrats would return and declined to discuss specific private conversations.
The speaker did not take any legislative votes in this exchange, but said the House rules’ automatic penalties would be imposed and that the chamber would continue efforts to restore quorum. He concluded by saying the House would meet again the next day at 1 p.m. to continue business.
AR
Arkansas 2026 Regular Session
ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE Mar 16th, 2026
ALC-HOSPITAL, MEDICAID, & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STUDY SUBCOMMITTEE
Transcript Highlights:
- Per the Arkansas state plan and state statute, DHS is currently required to make cost settlement payments
- to in-state and out-of-state providers.
- share excuse me the state share to fund or pull down those federal funds to be paid that state share
- state or a non-expansion state, they still pay more in those states than they do here in Arkansas.
- And yet, in Texas, Texas is being reimbursed $17,346 for that same patient.
Summary:
The subcommittee met to review Arkansas DHS hospital spending and reimbursement methods, with Secretary Janet Mann and Deputy Secretary Misty Eubanks explaining Medicaid hospital payments. They described fee-for-service per diem payments, cost settlements, and the upper payment limit (UPL) program, noting that SFY 2025 hospital payments included $688 million in inpatient/outpatient claims, $473 million in UPL payments, $248 million in cost settlements, and about $47 million in other payments such as graduate medical education and disproportionate share hospital funds. Members asked about why per diem rates vary, how cost settlements work, why UPL applies mainly to private hospitals, and how assessment fees are structured and funded. DHS said the hospital assessment fee is broad-based and uniform, used as the state share to draw federal funds, and that supplemental hospital payments after federal match totaled $548 million with no general revenue used.
The Arkansas Hospital Association’s Jody Ann Tritt then gave a broader overview of the hospital landscape, explaining the different hospital types in the state, including critical access hospitals, rural emergency hospitals, PPS hospitals, and specialty hospitals. She said Arkansas hospitals face financial strain, citing a negative 5.18% patient service margin statewide and lower reimbursement than surrounding states. She argued that Arkansas hospitals are paid less than hospitals in neighboring states for similar services, that commercial payer rates and administrative burdens are a major problem, and that Medicaid and Medicare rates remain below cost even with UPL support. She also said hospitals are the backbone of community care, provide emergency and public health functions, and are looking for ways to invest in technology and telehealth but often lack the revenue to do so.
Members pressed for clearer data on hospital finances, reimbursement adequacy, and the impact of commercial insurers. Tritt said the association had just authorized a statewide survey to gather updated financial information from hospitals, which she said would take about a year to complete. She also explained that Medicaid pays weekly, Medicare and commercial plans can involve delays and denials, and that hospitals often spend significant resources on revenue cycle work. The discussion ended with a brief update on assisted living reimbursement: DHS said one facility, The Pillars of the Community in Crossett, had announced closure, nine Living Choices waiver clients were being transitioned, and the updated rate study would be available after cost reports are collected, likely before the end of the fiscal year. The meeting then adjourned.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
House - Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Jan 28th, 2025
House Energy, Environment & Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- coming out of state?
- And would you agree that it's probably good for us as a state to look at what other states have done
- We have in the state oil and gas, 31,705 jobs. That's 3% of all jobs in the state of New Mexico.
- That's just state trust.
- in this state a more severe tax and regulatory policy than Texas.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education Apr 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- , including Colorado, Texas, and Massachusetts.
- Support versus other states that have greater variations. Okay.
- Because picking three states out of a half... ...is because picking three states out of a half, and I
- And that'll look at a variety of states, not just three? Correct.
- No other states delay screening in grades one and two.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee No. 1 on Education Apr 23rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- , including Colorado, Texas, and Massachusetts.
- Because picking three states out of a half...
- Because picking three states out of a half, and I don't know how many other states are doing screening
- Thank you. for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program.
- No other states delay screening in grades one and two.
Summary:
The Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education heard the Governor’s proposals on dual enrollment, reading difficulty screeners, special education, school facilities, and Commission on Teacher Credentialing programs. On dual enrollment, the Department of Finance described a $100 million one-time Proposition 98 investment to expand the Dual Enrollment Opportunities Grant Program, along with changes to make regional occupational centers eligible, add funding for justice-involved youth, prioritize higher-need LEAs, support teacher professional development, and reduce daily instructional minute requirements for some dual enrollment students. The LAO recommended rejecting the new funding as not clearly addressing implementation barriers, while CDE supported the proposal and suggested reserving $10 million for technical assistance. Committee members and public commenters generally supported the expansion, with some asking for technical assistance and broader access, including adult dual enrollment.
The committee also reviewed a $40 million one-time Proposition 98 proposal for reading difficulty screener implementation and related trailer bill language that would require screening after 91 school days for kindergarten and 46 school days for grades 1-2. Finance said the timing was intended to reduce over-identification and align with evidence from preliminary data; the LAO recommended rejecting the funding and redirecting it to a discretionary block grant. CDE supported the funding and the general approach but acknowledged the need for local support and training. Several committee members and public witnesses raised concerns that the proposed timing restrictions were too rigid and could delay early intervention, while others supported the delay as a way to improve accuracy and avoid misidentification.
For special education, Finance proposed ongoing Proposition 98 increases to adjust for COLA and enrollment changes and to raise the statewide special education base rate to $99 per ADA, equalizing rates across SELPAs. The LAO said the proposal should be adopted but estimated it could be funded for less than the Governor’s figure. CDE and multiple local education representatives strongly supported the increase, citing rising special education enrollment, cost pressures, and large local funding gaps. The committee also heard a brief overview of the school facilities proposal, which continues $1.5 billion in Proposition 2 bond funding for the School Facility Program; OPSC reported significant remaining bond authority but also substantial pending demand, and explained that natural disaster school rebuilding draws from the broader new construction and modernization pools. Finally, the committee reviewed Commission on Teacher Credentialing proposals, including the already-funded $300 million Student Teacher Stipend Program, new state operations resources for misconduct investigations and grant administration, and a $250 million one-time continuation of the Teacher Residency Grant Program. CTC said its grants management system is ready and that it expects better data tracking; public testimony broadly supported the educator workforce investments and urged continued funding for the Golden State Teacher Grant Program and additional support for rural and leadership pipeline programs. No votes were taken, and the hearing adjourned after public testimony.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Agriculture and Wildlife Apr 20th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Agriculture and Wildlife
Transcript Highlights:
- I think they would have to exclude 16 plus states.
- You speak of a release from six states. Was that pre-CWD?
- This is how we set the course of the state of Oklahoma.
- I don't believe we have a CWD issue in this state. The.
- I believe this could take our state, which is a top five state, backwards.
Committee:
Senate Agriculture and Wildlife
Keywords:
farmed cervidae, chronic wasting disease, genetic resistance, wildlife management, agriculture, wildlife tagging, hunting regulations, Cervidae family, feral swine, exotic wildlife, conservation, commercial hunting, raw milk, unpasteurized, farm sales, Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act, local producers, advertising, 914, all
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Joint Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions, May 21, 2026 - AM
Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> meetings laws um in surrounding states? meetings laws um in surrounding states?
- In Wyoming, Colorado, Idaho, and Texas, records must be related to public business, where other states
- states, Idaho is the one state that that states, Idaho is the one state that that does<00:15:26.240>
- </c> other states uh exemption language. other states uh exemption language.
- </c> state have priority? state have priority?
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Friday, June 27, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- United States. Every day the clock is United States.
- Uh, appreciate my friend from Texas. Wish him safe travels back home to our great state.
- </c> to our great state. to our great state.
- red states and non-expansion states and red states and non-expansion states and giving<02:30:15.840><
- </c> their state taxes. their state taxes.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Leanna Mann, and I, we show you as Leanna Mann, the chief appraiser, and here on behalf of Texas Association
- Uh, Senate Bill 1974 is a bipartisan bill that seeks to aid our counties across the state that have been
- Uh, and again we show you as the chief appraiser and and you're here on behalf of the Texas Association
- So like Chairman Turner stated, appraisal review board and filling those spots is often very challenging
- Chapter 6 of the Texas Property Tax Code provides the legal requirements for an appraisal district to
Committee:
House S/C on Property Tax Appraisals
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- I think they would have to exclude 16 plus states.
- that has done this, some of those 16 states?
- But all this has been done already in other states.
- I don't believe we have a CWD issue in this state.
- I believe this could take our state, which is a top-five state, backwards.
Committee:
Senate Agriculture and Wildlife
Keywords:
farmed cervidae, chronic wasting disease, genetic resistance, wildlife management, agriculture, wildlife tagging, hunting regulations, Cervidae family, feral swine, exotic wildlife, conservation, commercial hunting, raw milk, unpasteurized, farm sales, Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act, local producers, advertising
Summary:
The committee heard a lengthy presentation from Texas A&M professor Chris Seaberry on chronic wasting disease (CWD) genetics in deer and elk. He argued that susceptibility to CWD is polygenic, that genomic prediction can identify more resistant animals with high accuracy, and that selecting for resistant breeding values plus the PRNP codon 96 S allele could reduce disease prevalence. He said his work has been used in USDA/APHIS programs, that some facilities have been cleaned up using these methods, and that concerns about inbreeding, increased shedding, or harm to hunting quality are overstated. Committee members questioned the science, the risk of releasing potentially infected animals, the financial incentives for breeders, and whether wildlife agencies were resisting the program for philosophical or institutional reasons. The witness and senators also discussed the Department of Wildlife’s role, the Attorney General’s opinion, and whether the state should act more quickly or wait for more data.
The committee then took up House Bill 3270, which would shift rulemaking authority for the deer-release/CWD program from the Department of Wildlife to the Department of Agriculture after members said Wildlife had failed to promulgate rules for two years. The Department of Wildlife testified that it believed it had complied by collecting native deer samples and that it had been operating under a different understanding until the Attorney General’s March 5 opinion clarified the original law. After debate over agency inaction, the adequacy of the science, and the impact on deer breeders and hunters, the committee voted 3-9 against the bill, and HB 3270 failed.
The committee also confirmed Jessica Wilcox to an executive nomination by a 12-0 vote. It then advanced House Bill 3145, which clarifies tagging rules for commercial hunts by making $10 tags apply only to male native wildlife and $0 tags apply to female, feral swine, and exotic wildlife; the bill passed 12-0. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3056, which would allow unpasteurized cow, goat, and sheep milk to be sold at feed stores and farmers markets with labeling; members questioned gallon limits and whether the bill included adequate warning language, but no final action was taken in the portion provided.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Forty Eight - Wednesday, April 8 - Afternoon Session
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We are ready to further deepen our engagement with the United States and also the Missouri State, to
- state.
- And what happens is that most states no longer have a state license; it doesn’t exist anymore.
- state buildings, schools.
- It's for anyone in our state.
Summary:
The House first established a quorum, then heard a presentation from Debbie Huang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver. Huang thanked Missouri lawmakers for their annual Taiwan resolutions and described Taiwan as a democratic and economic partner of the United States, emphasizing cooperation with Missouri in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, semiconductors, and AI, while also warning about pressure from China and the need for stronger Taiwan-U.S. ties.
The chamber then took up House Bill 311, which would move oversight of bail bondsmen under the existing board for private investigators and fire investigators, add bail bondsmen to that board, and increase training and oversight. Members said the bill was industry-requested, had unanimous committee support, and carried no fiscal note. The House adopted the committee substitute and perfected and printed the bill.
Lawmakers also debated and adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 3009, a pharmacy bill aimed at clarifying rules for pharmacies serving low-income and underserved patients, emergency medication dispensing, and out-of-state pharmacy accreditation. Amendments were adopted to update the title and align Missouri law with national pharmacy board accreditation standards. The bill was described as a response to access problems during the 2025 St. Louis tornado and was said to have no state cost.
A large block of floor action followed on a combined package of bills and amendments covering public safety, criminal law, health, and licensing. Measures discussed and adopted included changes to the sex offender registry and related corrections, an offense for impeding first responders, Mason’s Law to flag drivers with disabilities in law enforcement databases, a hands-free cell phone law update, Highway Patrol equipment purchasing authority, psilocybin language for first responders and veterans, AI-generated explicit material and child pornography provisions, gift card fraud penalties, stronger fentanyl trafficking penalties, Melanie’s Law on ignition interlock/DUI penalties, a domestic violence registry, boiler inspection and Missouri fire/life safety standards, Kansas City police retirement age corrections, and a commercial driver English proficiency bill with stronger penalties for drivers and carriers. One amendment on the sex offender registry was withdrawn after debate, and the House ultimately adopted the remaining amendments and referred the combined House Bills 368 and 3049 substitute to the Committee on Legislative Review.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine housing roadblocks, focusing on paving a new way to address affordability. Mar 12th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- There is demand for homes in California and there is demand for homes in Texas, but Texas builds much
- If all U.S. states moved halfway from their current land use regulation levels to the current Texas level
- Texas does such a better job of providing affordable housing for ordinary people than blue state Massachusetts
- That is unique, by the way, to the western states.
- and it's the fastest growing in the United States.
Keywords:
affordable housing, government investment, barriers, legislative solutions, public testimony
Summary:
The committee meeting focused on addressing the significant issue of affordable housing in America. Members expressed concern over the persistent barriers faced in the housing sector, despite substantial government investment aimed at alleviating these issues. It was highlighted that government interference plays a critical role in complicating the housing landscape, and discussions revolved around potential legislative approaches to mitigate these challenges. Several witnesses provided testimony, contributing to a thorough exploration of the topic.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Thirty Five - Tuesday, March 10 - Morning Session
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- For years, no-income-tax states like Texas, Tennessee, and Florida have often led the pack in attracting
- People seeing Texas, Tennessee, and Florida's models, they see an increasing number of states with an
- no-income states.
- It's good to look at other states. It's good to think about other states.
- It's good to look at other states. It's good to think about other states.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Library, and the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts.
- For example, the New Hampshire State Library must show a state match to unlock federal support for services
- that benefit local libraries across the state, including interlibrary loan and talking books for the
- Should we close the state library and end the ability for all 234 of New Hampshire's public libraries
- Should we close<02:07:39.679><c> the</c><02:07:39.920><c> state</c><02:07:40.159><c> library</c><02:07
Committee:
Senate Finance
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Natural Resources and Environment May 6th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- , you're a non-resident in the state that you are from, that state does not allow you to use that gear
- We have a multi-state compact for those types of revocation, where if you're revoked in one state and
- We allow this gear in the state. They don't in Texas.
- on state-owned lands.
- This state is not a net zero state. It should not be a net zero state.
Summary:
The committee first considered several local property-transfer and wildlife/fisheries bills, including SB 229 (Bojeur Parish property transfer), SB 71 (Lafayette Parish property transfer), and a series of Department of Wildlife and Fisheries measures. SB 203 simplified possession rules for fish on multi-day trips and remote camps; SB 429 created an administrative path to register “orphan” boats with lapsed registrations; SB 204 removed a residency-based restriction on certain commercial fishing gear licenses; SB 205 reduced duplicate registration requirements for federally documented boats; SB 213 clarified titling rules for vessels and outboard motors; and SB 257 removed Social Security number requirements from certain commercial fishing tags. Each of these bills was reported favorable, generally without objection, after brief explanations from sponsors and department counsel about reducing red tape, improving enforcement, or modernizing records.
The committee also heard SB 214, which would allow the Teche-Vermilion Fresh Water District to stop pumping during an imminent flood threat identified by the National Weather Service or GOSEP, addressing liability concerns and giving local officials more flexibility in emergencies. SB 274, as amended, required lead hazard risk assessments for certain child care, early learning, and pre-kindergarten facilities and required hazards found in assessments to be addressed before licensing. Both bills were reported favorable. SB 379, a technical reorganization bill for the Department of Conservation and Energy, received two amendment sets: one changing investment language and another standardizing judicial-review procedures and online notice requirements; it was reported favorable after those amendments.
The committee then adopted HCR 62, urging FEMA to review flood maps every five years instead of every ten and to better account for local flood-protection projects, with members discussing the burden of flood insurance and the need for FEMA to recognize levees, pump stations, and elevated homes. HCR 78 was also reported favorable, memorializing Congress to pass the American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026 in support of Louisiana’s seafood industry. HB 662, as substituted, was reported favorable after being rewritten to codify the department’s internal protocol for seized sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife, prioritizing release, rehabilitation, placement, and euthanasia as a last resort.
Finally, the committee considered two more contentious items. HR 216, which urged repudiation of the Louisiana Climate Action Plan of 2022, drew extended debate over whether the plan had been adopted without legislative input and whether it could affect permits or future policy; after discussion, the sponsor voluntarily deferred the resolution to return with a revised approach focused on a legislative hearing or review. SCR 24, dealing with chronic wasting disease rules, was introduced with amendments that would raise the prevalence threshold, cap samples, allow zone removal after three years without new detections, and lift baiting/feed prohibitions above a higher prevalence level; the transcript cuts off before final action on that measure.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And I'm the Mayor of Austin, Texas.
- protect the taxpayers and the citizens, but also those who serve them. who are working so hard for the state
- The exotic game industry is a crucial part of the Texas economy, particularly in rural areas where it
- It benefits ranchers, landowners, and hunters in Texas. And I want to thank the committee.
- Prior to 2003, Texas provided credits and refunds for both diesel and gasoline using APUs and PTOs, but
Committee:
Senate Finance
Keywords:
diesel fuel tax, tax credit, auxiliary power units, power take-off equipment, refund, energy efficiency, firefighter retirement, municipal contributions, pension system, retirement benefits, funding ratios, sales tax exemption, exotic animals, game animals, agriculture, livestock, civil liability, motor vehicle, legal protection, removal
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Sixty Three - Tuesday, May 5th
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The state needs to pay for what the state is operating.
- The state needs to pay for what the state is operating.
- Lady, please state your point of order. Lady, please state your point of order.
- Constitution, it was a Convention of States bill, made us one of 20 states for us to be in.
- We became one of 20 states to be in the, to join in to be a convention of states.
Summary:
The House met with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal by roll call vote, 133-0. The session then included many introductions of interns, guests, and a Teacher Appreciation Day statement. A committee report recommended passage of Senate Bill 903, and the chamber moved into third reading and amendment action on Senate Bill 1421 and related measures.
Members debated and adopted a long series of amendments covering public safety, criminal justice, schools, and corrections. Topics included drone enforcement authority for law enforcement, a Missouri Ranger school safety program and school bus stop-arm penalties, Clean Slate automatic expungement language narrowed to drug offenses, an Alzheimer’s task force and dementia training for law enforcement, fire hydrant testing, pseudoephedrine access, banning portable electronic devices in prisons, hands-free cell phone law fixes, critical infrastructure protections, parental accountability for minors’ offenses, fentanyl trafficking, attorney general firearms authority, support for St. Louis and Kansas City police boards, DNA collection on arrest for additional crimes, a 25-foot buffer around first responders, a domestic violence registry, squatter and notary fraud fixes, gift card fraud, and post-conviction death penalty procedures. Several amendments drew opposition over civil liberties, school safety, prison penalties, and death penalty concerns, but most were adopted.
The most contested item was the death penalty post-conviction relief amendment, which members argued either would streamline appeals and risk wrongful executions or would provide needed finality for victims; it ultimately passed 75-68 after a roll call vote. Another notable debate centered on the St. Louis Police Board amendment, with members disputing who should pay for police overtime and liability costs. The transcript ends amid discussion of a corrections-related amendment on good-time credit and rehabilitation programming, with the amendment to the amendment being supported by members from both parties.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Natural Resources and Environment May 19th, 2026
Natural Resources & Environment
Transcript Highlights:
- It's long been recognized that states and local governments, acting under state authority, may regulate
- But if the state says, okay... ...the state withholding all of its revenue.
- Secretary, the states that have the EPA permitting process would be— is Texas one of those?
- We are competing directly with Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and other states for these projects and the
- And I think this would be good for our state, wherever we do this in our state. So that's my HR.
Committee:
House Natural Resources & Environment
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Local Government (7-29-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh, two states this year, Texas<00:26:28.240><c> and</c><00:26:28.559><c> Maine,</c><00:26:28.880><c>
- c> states, did they pass a state law that states, did they pass a state law that required<00:33:53.120
- </c> states.
- And it's important for state states.
- The red states and blue states alike.
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:00:05
Roll Call 00:00:12
Discussion of Legislative Measures 00:03:12
Discussion of Housing and Land Use 00:21:58
Discussion of Short Term Rental Policies 01:03:17
Adjournment 01:15:38, 958, all
Summary:
The committee approved the minutes from its June 4, 2025 meeting and then heard a series of presentations focused largely on housing and land-use policy. Senator Robbie Mills and Representative Josh Bray discussed two 2025 housing measures: Senate Bill 50, which would create residential infrastructure development districts to help local governments finance infrastructure for new housing developments through special assessments and local debt, and House Bill 7, which would let local governments identify development areas and rebate new property tax revenue to developers as an incentive for housing growth. They said Kentucky faces a statewide housing shortage of roughly 210,000 units, projected to grow if building patterns do not change, and argued that regulatory relief and financing tools are needed to increase supply.
Representative Rebecca Rymer presented House Bill 371, which would require local permitting when an industry’s residual waste landfill is located in a different county from the industry itself. She said current law lets such landfills bypass local review, leaving host counties with no say despite road impacts and other local burdens. She said the bill would preserve the existing exemption when the landfill and industry are co-located, and noted support from KLC and KO. Representative Steve Doan also described House Bill 806, a statewide backyard chicken bill that would allow domesticated hens, prohibit roosters, set a minimum of six hens that local governments could not go below, and preserve local authority over setbacks, sanitation, maintenance standards, and egg sales. He said it would override outright local bans but not HOA restrictions, and cited a current Northern Kentucky dispute and ADA litigation as reasons for the proposal.
The committee then heard a broader discussion on housing and land use from Charlie Gardner of the Mercatus Center and Nolan Gray of California YIMBY and the Bluegrass Institute. They outlined categories of land-use regulation, described the recent growth of state-level housing reforms nationwide, and cited examples such as ADU legalization, smaller lot sizes, reduced parking minimums, streamlined permitting, and single-stair or other building-code reforms. They argued that housing shortages are a statewide concern, that localities often have incentives to block growth, and that state intervention can reduce costs and uncertainty without compromising health and safety. Members asked about the housing shortage estimate, the effect of red tape on safety and local authority, and how state reforms could be phased in; the presenters said reforms often include lead time, can be targeted to larger jurisdictions, and should focus on reducing time and cost while maintaining basic standards.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- A law enforcement agency in the state, the United States Armed Forces, the New Mexico National Guard,
- and the state of New Mexico.
- You cannot buy a gun in another state, and unless it complies with your state. Okay, there you go.
- laws of the residence home state.
- state of New Mexico.
Summary:
The Senate convened, established a quorum, offered an invocation, and handled several announcements and courtesy motions, including excusing some members and relaxing the dress code. The chamber then adopted committee reports on several bills, including Senate Bill 50, Senate Bill 30, and Senate Bill 43. It then moved to third reading of Senate Judiciary Committee substitute for Senate Bill 17, the “Stop Illegal Gun Trade and Extremely Dangerous Weapons Act.”
SB 17 was read at length and explained by Senator O’Malley and co-sponsor Senator Bergman as a gun crime prevention measure aimed at dealer security, employee training, recordkeeping, reporting requirements, inspections, and a ban on future dealer sales or transfers of certain firearms and accessories, including high-capacity magazines, .50-caliber rifles and cartridges, gas-operated semi-automatic firearms with detachable magazines, and machine guns. Supporters argued the bill targets the retail-to-criminal pipeline, improves accountability, and would help reduce gun trafficking and violence. Opponents argued it infringes on constitutional rights, would not stop criminals from obtaining guns, and would burden law-abiding citizens and dealers.
The chamber then debated Floor Amendment No. 1 by Senator Brantley, which would have struck Section 7, the portion banning certain weapons and devices. Supporters of the amendment said Section 7 was the most constitutionally vulnerable part of the bill and would likely be litigated, while opponents said the section was central to the bill’s purpose and consistent with Second Amendment case law. The amendment failed on a roll call vote, 15-22. A second amendment by Senator Block, which would have exempted certain under-21 employees from the bill’s age restriction if they were military members, veterans, or had completed hunter safety or 4-H programs, was then taken up and debated, with supporters emphasizing military training and youth firearms education as evidence of responsibility.