Video & Transcript : 'Texas mobility fund' :
Page 37 of 500
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee Mar 17th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Meanwhile, states like Texas, Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina are growing their veteran population
- Meanwhile, states like Texas, Florida, Virginia, and North Carolina are growing their veteran population
- It's never been the case that the General Fund supported the purchase of automobiles for consumers.
- As the author indicated, this bill extends the Local Prepaid Mobile Telephony Services Collection Act
- We would perhaps suggest, if there is a lack of affordability, perhaps a low-interest loan fund that
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation held its second regular hearing of the 2025-26 session and announced that, under reinstated suspense-file rules, every bill on the agenda would be referred to suspense rather than voted on immediately. The committee first heard AB 53, which would create a state income tax exemption of up to $20,000 for military retirees and certain survivor benefits. Supporters, including veterans’ groups, military retirees, and local officials, argued California is the only state taxing military retirement pay in full and that the exemption would help retain veterans and their families. Committee members voiced strong support, but the bill was sent to suspense.
The committee then heard several wildfire-related tax relief bills. AB 429 would exempt certain wildfire settlement payments from gross income for victims of fires from 2020 through 2026; the author and a Greenville fire victim described the burden of taxing settlement funds, and rural county and forestry groups supported the measure. AB 97 proposed similar relief for Bobcat Fire settlement payments, and AB 389 would create a personal income tax credit for home-hardening expenses in high fire-risk areas, with Cal Fire and realtor representatives supporting the bill as a way to reduce future losses. Each of these measures drew no formal opposition in the hearing and was referred to suspense.
AB 386 would create a tax credit for employers that help full-time employees repay student loans, up to $3,000 per employee per year. Supporters said it would help recruit and retain workers and reduce student debt burdens, while the California Tax Reform Association opposed the bill because it lacked allocation criteria and would reduce General Fund and education revenues. Committee members expressed interest but asked for clearer eligibility standards, and the bill was sent to suspense. AB 490 would allow a deduction for interest paid on qualified personal vehicle loans; the author framed it as relief for families dependent on cars, but opposition again came from the tax reform group, which argued the deduction would mainly benefit higher-income taxpayers. The bill also went to suspense.
The committee also heard AB 547, which would create a tax credit of up to $5,000 for IVF and other fertility-treatment expenses. The author and a witness who described a long and costly IVF journey said the credit would help families afford treatment and support parenthood; members responded sympathetically and asked why the proposal was structured as a tax credit rather than a health coverage mandate. Finally, AB 330 would extend the prepaid mobile telephony services collection act through 2031, preserving an 80-cent surcharge that supports 911 and local government revenues; local government representatives and cities supported the extension, and it too was referred to suspense. The hearing ended with the committee adjourning after all measures were held for suspense-file consideration.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- By maintaining control over the Texas electrical grid, Texas will safeguard its energy sovereignty, ensuring
- By maintaining control over Texas electrical grid, Texas will safeguard its energy sovereignty, ensuring
- Advanced Nuclear Development Fund to support nuclear development through the Texas Advanced Nuclear
- The Texas nuclear plants, Comanche Peak, that Vice Chair King mentioned, and South Texas Project led
- A nuclear Texas has a benefit to all of Texas, and I urge you to support this bill.
Committee:
Senate Business & Commerce
Summary:
The committee first took up pending business and quickly reported several measures favorably, including HB 12, SB 1361, SB 1705, SB 1749, SB 1897, SB 2344, SB 2566, HB 3809, and HB 4215, with most sent to the Local and Uncontested Calendar. HB 12’s substitute clarified a limited midterm review of regulatory agencies tied to Sunset Commission recommendations. SB 2696’s substitute changed med spa regulation from a license to a certificate, with training instead of an exam, plus background checks, continuing education, and two-year renewals. HB 3809 dealt with battery energy storage decommissioning and recycling, and HB 4215 was reported without a substitute. SB 1978, concerning interconnection of electric facilities in ERCOT and federal jurisdiction concerns, was reported out on a 5-3 vote after debate, but then the chair later announced the bill was withdrawn and left pending subject to the call of the chair. HB 1899 was also reported favorably, with one nay.
A major portion of the meeting focused on HB 14, the advanced nuclear energy bill. Senator Schwertner described it as creating a Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office, a nuclear permitting coordinator, a development fund, a completion grant program, and a workforce development program. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives from Fermi America, Dow/X-energy, CPS Energy, Paragon Energy Solutions, Bridge to Nuclear, Aalo Atomics, and the Texas Association of Business, argued that Texas should lead in advanced nuclear, citing future baseload demand, data centers, industrial power needs, supply-chain development, and long-term energy diversification. Opponents, including Public Citizen, Texas Nuclear Watchdogs, Sierra Club, and individual citizens, argued the bill would subsidize unproven, expensive technology, create grants rather than loans, and expose taxpayers to major risk while doing little to meet near-term energy needs. Several members questioned whether the state should fund projects that may not produce grid power for years, and whether the bill’s grant structure and new office were justified.
The committee also heard HB 5061, which Senator Schwertner said would prohibit unethical surveillance and misuse of confidential information by state contractors, create a confidential reporting system through the State Auditor’s Office, authorize Texas Rangers investigations, protect whistleblowers, and impose penalties including contract termination, fines, and contracting bans. No public testimony was offered, and the bill was left pending. HB 132, sponsored by Senator Hughes, would extend confidentiality protections for sensitive information to hostile acts by foreign adversaries; it was also left pending after no testimony. HB 1584 was then laid out, with Senator Schwertner explaining it would require utilities to maintain and update priority restoration lists for critical facilities after Hurricane Beryl exposed communication failures, but the transcript cuts off before any action on that bill.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- This funding will allow BBH to deploy a new blood mobile, bringing donation opportunities to high-traffic
- mobilized project so an ongoing mobile mobilized project so it<01:59:11.800><c> will</c><01:59:11.920
- This funding is critical.
- This funding is critical.
- This funding is critical.
Summary:
The joint Ways and Means and Finance informational briefing on grants and aids was held February 14 and was organized as a high-volume public testimony session with strict procedures: no Q&A, one representative per applicant, one minute per testimony, in-person testimony first, and then Zoom participants. The chairs also announced a recess at 11:00 a.m. for floor sessions and a reconvening at 1:00 p.m. Testimony was heard first from neighbor island applicants, then Oʻahu applicants, with members repeatedly directing speakers to line up and keep remarks brief.
Neighbor island testimony focused on a wide range of capital and operating requests. Health and community projects included Hawaii Island Community Health Center’s workforce housing in Kau, Wuli Hawaiian Homestead Association’s learning center and predevelopment work, Rescue Tube Foundation’s beach rescue tube expansion, Puna Community Medical Center’s planned hospital/ER campus, Maui Humane Society’s free veterinary care after the wildfires, Hawaiʻi Care Choices’ palliative care readiness, and the Lyman Museum’s HVAC replacement. Other requests included the Maui Advanced Manufacturing Alliance’s Pāʻia Mill redevelopment, Laua 2020’s preschool and learning lab, Mālama Aina’s USDA-compliant meat processing facility, the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association’s water safety programs, Kaha P Organization’s agriculture education support, Ohana Arts’ youth performance project, Friends of the Children’s Justice Center’s emergency closet, EOA Pacific’s Marshall Islands teacher training, and the Central Pacific Youth Athletic Club’s new facility.
Oʻahu testimony included the YWCA Oʻahu/Pythink Center’s renovation of Juliet M. Atherton Hall and its community kitchen, West Oʻahu Community Health Center’s wildfire protection and security needs, the Early School’s playground improvements, Surfing the Nations’ food distribution center expansion, and Sounding Joy Music Therapy’s weekly services for people with disabilities. Speakers generally emphasized community benefit, workforce development, health access, food security, disaster recovery, and support for children, seniors, and underserved populations. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the briefing.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Health and Public Affairs Feb 11th, 2026 at 05:14 pm
Senate Health & Public Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- They are Texas, Nebraska, Florida, and Delaware.
- Senate Bill 309, Lottery deposits into tuition funds.
- , to the scholarship fund.
- Texas probably offers a game of that type.
- So there's only one funding... So there's only one funding stream.
Committee:
Senate Senate Health & Public Affairs
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- of the large part of funding that we got last year was to fill gaps that came from loss of federal funds
- the way they fund homelessness.
- The Opportunity Enterprise Board has chosen to use the funding to close funding gaps, so to take great
- There was no funding at that time.
- It is an enterprise fund.
Committee:
Senate Senate Finance
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Congressional Redistricting, Select Jul 26th, 2025
Congressional Redistricting, Select
Transcript Highlights:
- fails to rectify the racial gerrymandering of Texas 9, Texas 18, Texas 29, and Texas 33.
- Texas can fund summer meal programs.
- As the Culture Commission, we have mobilized privately to get funding, trucks, and food prepared because
- That is not Texas.
- It should truly represent the reality of Texas as Texas has changed.
Committee:
House Congressional Redistricting, Select
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Texas Impact Network, which is a non-profit joint venture of Educate Texas and the Commit Partnership
- and Educate Texas.
- So, we're working with districts in the Panhandle, in South Texas and the Valley, West Texas, East Texas
- We thank you for your commitment to Texas teachers and, in turn, Texas students.
- I am a Texas School Counselor representing the Texas Counseling Association, testifying on SB 26.
Committees:
Senate Education , Senate Education K-16
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- and rural water assistance funds under the Texas Water Development Board, that's an important agency
- This amendment funds the Texas Tariff Impact Relief Fund and Grants Program. which we may want to call
- Members, this amendment fully funds the tuition assistance program for the Texas military.
- The University of Texas at Austin has many funding sources. This is one. source.
- You also voted to defund the Texas Enterprise Fund, which many see as crony capitalism.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select Aug 22nd, 2025
Disaster Preparedness & Flooding, Select
Transcript Highlights:
- The Texas Water Development Board may withhold future project funding for jurisdictions that do not comply
- , except for SIREN grant funding.
- Obviously, they have a flood infrastructure fund, and they can provide additional funding.
- For example, the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, the Rebuild CAR Fund, has received over
- Bill Kerr fund.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Charles Miller, Director of Health and Economic Mobility, you show voting for the bill.
- On behalf of Texas 2036. Okay.
- I'm Banning, I'm the CEO of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians.
- Uh, Representative Wharton's district, the Texas Medical Association has a position on the AP.
- God bless Texas. Happy birthday. Yeah, thank you, sir.
Committee:
House Insurance
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Feb 19th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Act, allowing those funds to be more quickly allocated and expended.
- What is it that's going to fund transit into the future?
- I want to add one point to this, and that is transit funding creates transit jobs.
- However, the 442nd suffered over 800 casualties rescuing the Texas battalion.
- Over 800 casualties rescuing the Texas Battalion.
Summary:
The Senate first took up two budget-related transportation trailer bills. AB 107 was described as a budget junior bill making technical corrections, updating federal appropriations by about $15 million, and exempting certain Proposition 4 appropriations from the Administrative Procedures Act to speed spending; Senator Niello objected to the transparency implications, but the bill passed 28-10. AB 117 then authorized a $590 million state loan from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to provide operating support to Bay Area transit agencies, with repayment secured by transit assistance revenues and interest; supporters called it an emergency bridge to prevent major service cuts at BART, Muni, AC Transit, and Caltrain, while critics questioned ridership recovery, governance, and accountability. The measure passed 28-9 after extensive debate, with several senators emphasizing both Bay Area urgency and the need for broader statewide transit funding and reform.
The Senate then confirmed two California Air Resources Board appointees. Linda Hopkins, Sonoma County supervisor and air district chair, was confirmed after brief support from Senator Becker highlighting her rural North Bay perspective. Patricia Locke Dawson, Riverside mayor and South Bay air district representative, was also confirmed, with Senator Becker again praising her academic and practical background. Both confirmations passed on largely party-line votes with broad support from the majority and opposition from a small group of Republicans.
The chamber next considered SCR 89, a resolution by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas condemning federal attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs under President Trump. Supporters from both parties and multiple caucuses framed DEI as essential to civil rights, education, workforce development, national defense, and inclusion for marginalized communities, while the author argued California must resist federal rollbacks. The resolution passed after a lengthy debate and roll call, with several senators also using the discussion to share personal experiences with educational access and discrimination.
Finally, the Senate took up SCR 78, authored by Senator Cabaldon, commemorating the forced incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and warning against repeating such abuses. Senators from across the chamber spoke in support, citing the injustice of Executive Order 9066, the resilience and military service of Japanese Americans, and the importance of museums and historic sites such as Manzanar and the Japanese American National Museum. The resolution was presented as both remembrance and a caution against fear-driven policies and erosion of due process.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
WAM/FIN Joint Info Briefing - Fri Feb 14, 2025 @ 9:30 AM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- so we go out and do our own self-funded so we go out and do our own funding<00:18:22.360><c> to</c><
- This funding will allow BBH to deploy a new blood mobile, bringing donation opportunities to high-traffic
- This funding is critical.
- This funding is critical.
- private loan funds government funds private loan funds private<05:23:50.638><c> grants</c><05:23:50.958
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Professional Registration and Licensing Mar 11th, 2026
Professional Registration and Licensing
Transcript Highlights:
- The RX CARES for Missouri program is funded by the Missouri Board of Pharmacy to prevent prescription
- Department of Defense, the DoD, and the American Association of Respiratory Care to support the mobility
- She then gave a personal example involving a Texas report at the start of COVID, when she heard that
- The witness said Texas did not say exactly who the entity was, only that a rule was changed, and that
- With Texas, they didn't say exactly who the entity was, but they said it was a rule that was changed.
Summary:
The committee first met in executive session on Senate Substitute No. 2 for Senate Bill 1233. Members adopted several amendments, including language allowing the Boards of Therapeutic Massage and Chiropractors to seek emergency suspension of licenses when there are criminal indictments or charges that could harm citizens; extending the RX CARES for Missouri prescription drug abuse prevention program by removing its sunset; updating pharmacy distributor licensing language to reflect national licensing practices; clarifying pharmacist immunization authority, including RSV immunizations and board oversight for future immunizations; allowing certain long-term care facility employees to administer additional subcutaneous medications; and adopting agreed-upon language related to interior designers. The committee then rolled those amendments into a committee substitute and voted the bill do pass by a 16-1 roll call vote.
The committee then heard House Bills 2618 and 2644, which would join Missouri to the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact. The bill sponsors said the compact would improve licensure portability for respiratory therapists, help address workforce shortages, and allow Missouri to be among the first states shaping the compact’s commission. Supporters, including respiratory therapists, a hospital association representative, a student and military spouse, and a nursing association representative, said the compact would speed access to qualified therapists, aid rural and hospital care, help during emergencies like COVID-19, and benefit military families. Several witnesses emphasized that participating states would still retain their own licensing standards and scope-of-practice authority.
Opponents argued that the compact would surrender state sovereignty to an unformed commission, create a “blank check” before the rules are written, and potentially allow rules to supersede state law. They also raised constitutional concerns about interstate compacts and questioned whether a reciprocal licensing approach would be preferable. Committee members asked about sovereignty, the legal basis for compacts, and whether Missouri could preserve its standards; sponsors and supporters responded that the compact would not remove state authority and that Missouri could still require its own standards. The hearing concluded without a vote on the respiratory compact bills.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Thirty parks in the state of Texas, I also serve as their legislative liaison.
- I lead the Water Program for the Environmental Defense Fund here in Texas. and we are here today supporting
- associate members across the state of Texas.
- We need to protect water in Texas. Go ahead, Dr. Lennon. Thank you, this is a good bill.
- Hill, Texas Association of... builders.
Committee:
House Land & Resource Management
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Business and Professions Committee Apr 8th, 2025
Business and Professions
Transcript Highlights:
- The NASW California chapter mobilized over 2,000 social workers across the state to address, support,
- As for cross-border practice or mobility, This has been an integral part of the accounting profession
- Dozens of states, including the largest of New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, and Oregon
- are actively updating their licensure frameworks to address mobility concerns.
- AB 1175 provides real world solutions to addressing pipeline challenges and modernizing mobility. while
Committee:
House Business and Professions
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- This committee substitute was requested by the Texas Real Estate Improvement Institute.
- I'm an estate planning and probate attorney here in Austin, and I'm here on behalf of the Texas Real
- in addition to letters testamentary or letters of administration, this is an old reference in the Texas
- It keeps costs down and ensures that Texas disputes are handled by Texas courts, which should encourage
- Some will recall that we heard this bill regarding mobile home beneficiaries.
Committee:
Senate Jurisprudence
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Tax, Business and Transportation Jan 29th, 2026 at 02:36 pm
Senate Tax, Business & Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- And it is a company that is funded by three different funds from the State Investment Council.
- Without this funding, the shelters would be overfull.
- I think this is a very interesting way to provide the funding.
- Where the Johnson County Sheriff's Department in Texas, Johnson County, Texas, accessed, did a nationwide
- It is the ability for an agency in Texas to...
Committee:
Senate Senate Tax, Business & Transportation
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy and Natural Resources (04/21/2026)
Energy and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> but clearly had some legitimate mobility but clearly had some legitimate mobility issues<00:03:23.200
- But it's a question of mobility. If you don't have one of those, you're not mobile.
- If you it's a question of mobility.
- </c> >> you're not you're not mobile. >> you're not you're not mobile.
- </c> going to build up a fund going to build up a fund and<00:45:18.240><c> I</c><00:45:18.400><c> I<
Committee:
Senate Energy and Natural Resources
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
ALC-HIGHWAY COMMISSION REVIEW AND ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE Mar 16th, 2026
ALC-HIGHWAY COMMISSION REVIEW AND ADVISORY SUBCOMMITTEE
Transcript Highlights:
- We have obligated 3.14 billion dollars of that funding, and that's cumulative to date.
- Yeah, I paid those for my kids, and they were in Texas. They'd send you a bill.
- Yeah, I paid those for my kids, and they were in Texas. They'd send you a bill.
- The mobile work zone legislation is making an impact.
- We don't get the funds from that. We don't make revenue from writing a ticket.
Summary:
The committee received a report from Director Wiley of the Arkansas Department of Transportation on a series of routine and quarterly items, including the closeout of the department’s efficiency review. Wiley said all five remaining recommendations from that review had been implemented, highlighted a new public maintenance dashboard on the agency website, and reported four surplus properties sold since the last meeting. He also noted that ARDOT had obligated $3.14 billion in Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding to date and reviewed the annual expenditure report tied to 2019 revenue changes, which funded $98.7 million in maintenance projects last year.
Members asked about the balance between maintenance and new construction, with Wiley saying about 75% of construction dollars go to maintaining the existing system and that ARDOT’s overall spending is overwhelmingly focused on upkeep because of the size of the state highway network. He also discussed major projects and corridor priorities, including Interstate 57 and Highway 5 work in Lonoke County, Interstate 49 public meetings, passing-lane improvements on Highway 412/62 in north central Arkansas, Highway 82 widening in south Arkansas, and long-range plans to widen Interstate 40, possibly including a toll study. On the Toad Suck Bridge flood mitigation project, he said the design had been revised to reduce public impacts and would not require a long-term bridge closure.
The committee also discussed safety and enforcement tools in work zones. Wiley said new work-zone cameras and cell phone detection tools were being used on projects such as I-30, I-57, and I-49, mainly to improve safety rather than issue citations. In addition, he said ARDOT spends about $8 million annually on litter control and is expanding anti-litter efforts, including a spring cleanup day involving more than 2,500 operations employees and some office staff. He also announced agency initiatives on human trafficking awareness training for field and office staff and the Street Smart education program for middle school students, with plans to expand it to high school content next year. No votes were taken, and the meeting adjourned after the director’s presentation and member questions.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Mar 23rd, 2026
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Transcript Highlights:
- They truly need those funds because at the end of the day, we as a city depend on those Chapter 70 funds
- I don't know how we're going to fund those back. Student Opportunity Act funds.
- We don't need extra funds. We need the funds that it takes to keep our schools running.
- funding, the Chapter 70 funding formula.
- State aid funding is critical.
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a public hearing in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 budget for education and local aid. Opening remarks from Senator Pavel Payano, Representative Pat Duffy, and local leaders emphasized the importance of education funding for Lawrence and other Gateway Cities, with Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero highlighting the city’s high-need student population, Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, early college and career pathways, and the need for sustained support to close achievement gaps.
The Education Secretariat testified in support of the budget, with Acting Secretary Amy Kershaw outlining investments in early literacy, universal pre-K, student mental health, school meals, high school redesign, higher education affordability, and early childhood systems. Commissioner Noi Ortega described higher education proposals including expanded free community college, continued free tuition at public four-year institutions, student success funding, early college and dual enrollment investments, and the Bright Act and Drive Act. Commissioner Pedro Martinez detailed K-12 proposals such as full Student Opportunity Act funding, increased Chapter 70 aid, special education circuit breaker funding, transportation aid, literacy initiatives, and a new Accelerating Achievement Initiative aimed at schools with the greatest needs. Commissioner Kershaw also described early education proposals including funding for C3, child care financial assistance, CPPI, workforce supports, and administrative funding restoration.
Committee members questioned the administration about the pending local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to address health care and other cost drivers in school funding. Officials said the local contribution report is expected by the end of June and that a draft will be shared for public comment after data analysis is complete. Members also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities between districts and urged a broader review of the formula. In response, the commissioners said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but further work is needed, and they pointed to the new achievement initiative, literacy efforts, and early college expansion as ways to improve outcomes. No votes were taken at the hearing.