Video & Transcript : 'open primary' :

Page 384 of 500
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Nominations May 19th, 2025

Nominations

Transcript Highlights:
  • the commission is performing its duties, not with the commission or specifically realtors as the primary
  • And I think if you've ever watched any of our open meetings subsequent to Beryl, you've seen from the
  • I've tried to be as open with my office as possible.
  • anyone came to talk to you about this commission, as it's currently constituted, they said that it's as open
  • Hearing none, public testimony is open; public testimony is closed.
Committee: Senate Nominations
Summary: The Senate Committee on Nominations held its final nomination hearing of the session and considered three nominees: J.B. Goodwin for the Texas Real Estate Commission, Courtney Yaltman for the Public Utility Commission of Texas, and Thomas Gleason as PUC chairman. Goodwin described his long career in real estate and charitable work, and senators questioned him extensively about the Real Estate Commission’s self-directed, semi-independent status, housing affordability, institutional homebuyers, property insurance costs, disclosure issues, and the Burnett v. National Association of Realtors case. Yaltman and Gleason were questioned about PUC oversight of ERCOT, post-Winter Storm Uri reforms, utility resilience and vegetation management after Hurricane Beryl, water and telecommunications oversight, staffing and transparency, and rising infrastructure and utility costs. Much of the discussion focused on housing and utility affordability, with several senators urging the nominees to keep consumer protection and public trust at the forefront. Goodwin said housing affordability and large-scale investment purchases were not within the Real Estate Commission’s direct purview, though he supported further study. Yaltman and Gleason said the PUC had increased oversight of ERCOT, improved communication and accountability with utilities, and was working on resiliency plans, rate-setting issues, and infrastructure planning while trying to avoid overburdening ratepayers. The committee first voted to favorably report nominees left pending from the May 5 agenda by a 6-0 roll call vote. After public testimony was opened and closed, the committee then voted on the nominees heard that day and favorably recommended all three to the full Senate for confirmation by a 7-0 vote. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Just before we begin, I'd like to make some opening remarks.
  • So, that tax filing can take place at the beginning of the following year where the tax season opens
  • And also, I'll say the policy changes in 218 that really have opened up a window where we are continuing
  • Open the time period to file cases, it did create scenarios where we can have cases in perpetuity.
  • overzealous law firms that risk the fiscal solvency of county government which we as we all know are the primary
Keywords: 988, house, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Apr 14th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • My bill has three primary components and this might answer some questions.
  • Would you be a open would you be open for a friendly amendment?
  • I am NOT open to an amendment right now And if they can take if they can get a million dollars, I recommend
  • My concern is that the state of Texas and the legislature not open Pandora's box even farther and end
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Public Safety Committee Meeting - 2025-04-02

Public Safety Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • agencies and public or private detectives, when they are bringing new staff onto their agencies, to open
  • And with that, I'm open for any questions.
  • As you heard during my testimony at last Friday's public safety hearing, the primary reason for the deficiency
  • Chair and members, I am open to any questions you have about this bill and its implications. Mr.
  • Our side is not very opposed to the bill; we're open for discussions.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Commerce and Tourism Mar 31st, 2025

Commerce and Tourism

Transcript Highlights:
  • Open it up one more time for questions on the bill as amended.
  • I'm going to open it up to questions, but I'll point out that we have an amendment.
  • It's also connected into our rural initiative, our rural renaissance, the Senate president's primary
  • And as always, Senator Davis, you know that I work my bills, my door's literally open, anytime I'm in
  • And there was a great hospital, I think, that's months away from opening, you know, five years later.
Summary: The Commerce and Tourism Committee heard and favorably reported several bills. SB 1672 removed duplicative state provisions related to labor pools; CS/SB 940 prohibited third-party sale of restaurant reservations without the restaurant’s consent; and CS/SB 1820 made changes to motor vehicle manufacturer and dealer franchise law, including disclosure of performance measures, anti-retaliation protections, and limits on franchise termination or nonrenewal. The committee also approved CS/SB 324, creating a revolving loan program to help small businesses affected by prolonged public works construction, and SB 936, which creates a recurring three-year study of the effects of AI, robotics, and automation on Florida’s workforce and economy. SB 1322, the Florida Rural Jobs Act, was amended and reported favorably to encourage private investment in rural small businesses through a state tax credit program. The committee also reported favorably on CS/SB 910, which regulates for-profit veterans’ benefit assistance services, and CS/SB 656, which extends protections from extraordinary collection actions to all bill-of-care payment actions by hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. The committee spent substantial time on CS/SB 1264, a broad Department of Commerce agency bill. The strike-all amendment added or revised provisions on Secure Florida, the RISE venture capital tax credit program, data center tax exemptions, business development classifications, military land transfers, and other economic development matters, while also repealing regional planning councils from statute. That repeal drew extensive opposition from local officials and regional council representatives, who argued the councils are important for emergency management, grant writing, planning, and support for small and rural communities. Supporters of the amendment said the councils could continue locally without state statutory involvement. After debate, the amendment was adopted and the bill was reported favorably, though Senators Davis and Smith voted no. The committee also considered CS/SB 1238, which would tighten reemployment assistance rules by disqualifying claimants who fail to meet job-search requirements or refuse work, and by adding verification and reporting requirements. Supporters framed it as adding guardrails and preventing fraud, while opponents argued Florida’s unemployment system is already difficult to access and that the bill would add unnecessary barriers and costs. Despite opposition from labor and advocacy groups, the bill was reported favorably, with Senators Smith and Arrington voting no. Finally, the committee unanimously recommended confirmation of Alexis Yarborough and John Gilbert to the Board of Supervisors of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

House - Government, Elections And Indian Affairs Mar 5th, 2025

House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • It wasn't to open up the whole can of worms, so to speak, on this issue.
  • It's because it was open, so Madam Chair, Representative, it is one of the days that is open during a
  • understand that a recent Pew Charitable Trust article identified regulatory obstacles as one of the primary
  • Chair and Representative, I could appear with the door opening. Sure, Madam Chair.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

House - Government, Elections And Indian Affairs Mar 5th, 2025

House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • It wasn't to open up the whole can of worms, so to speak, on this issue.
  • It's because it was open.
  • So, Madam Chair, Representative, it is one of the days that is open during a 60-day legislative session
  • understand that a recent Pew article, Pew Charitable Trusts, identified regulatory obstacles as one of the primary
  • Chair and Representative, I couldn't hear with the door open. Thank you.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Education Pre-K - 12 Feb 4th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • In his opening remarks is Senate president Senator Burton call for a rural renaissance, be certain of
  • Before we go to superintendent, I do want to open it up for questions for our executive director's any
  • I think we have less distractions in a small district to take us away from our primary mission, as you
  • But just so that we're the conversation is open.
  • he had to do that because a one-bedroom apartment now in south while the in Freeport that was just opened
Keywords: 999, senate, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm glad you're at least open to the idea that a ban isn't going to happen, hopefully, and so let's come
  • And as a Pennsylvania resident, I've been shopping for cost savings as the primary goal of my shopping
  • When you get them in the mail and you open up your mail, I know it’s not good for green, but when you
  • get them in the mail and you open them up, you say, oh my God, what am I paying, you know?
  • For the last few months as an organizer on the ground, I have often opened my conversations with the
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several energy-related bills, with the main focus on H. 3534/S. 2255, which would ban or sharply restrict residential third-party electric suppliers, and on related reform proposals. Supporters included the Attorney General’s office, municipal and regional planning officials, environmental justice groups, consumer advocates, and city officials from Boston and Chelsea. They argued that the residential competitive supply market has produced higher bills, deceptive sales tactics, auto-renewals into higher rates, and disproportionate harm to low-income residents, seniors, communities of color, and people with limited English. Witnesses cited AG reports estimating hundreds of millions of dollars in overcharges over time, described door-to-door and storefront marketing abuses, and said municipal aggregation programs have saved residents money while offering more stable rates. Several supporters said the Legislature should either ban residential competitive supply or adopt strong guardrails such as ending automatic renewals, banning incentive-based commissions, and capping rates relative to basic service. Opponents or industry representatives from the Retail Energy Advancement League, Vistra, and Constellation argued that the market can provide savings, longer-term price stability, and value-added products such as renewable options and time-of-use offerings. They said Massachusetts has already improved consumer protections through DPU proceedings, that complaints are relatively few compared with the size of the market, and that a ban would eliminate consumer choice. They also defended direct sales and commissions as normal features of a retail market, while saying they would support additional protections, licensing, bonding, and stronger oversight of bad actors. Committee members pressed both sides on whether the market truly saves money, whether automatic renewals should be banned, and whether the AG’s proposed reforms would be enough. The committee also heard testimony on H. 3972, a bill to extend utility shutoff protections during extreme heat, with Rep. Mindy Domb arguing that Massachusetts should treat extreme heat like extreme cold and protect customers facing financial hardship. Rep. Barrett also testified for H. 3450, a municipal broadband/right-of-way bill, arguing that communities need easier and cheaper access to utility poles and public rights of way to build municipal broadband. In addition, Senate Majority Leader Creem testified for S. 2239, which would bar utilities from recovering ratepayer funds for lobbying, promotions, trade association dues, and similar expenses. No votes were taken during the hearing.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Appropriations and Finance Jan 14th, 2026 at 08:34 am

House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, we are really opening up our listening phase right now.
  • So we're working on that as well, and that's one of our primary focuses in this calendar year 2026.
  • This is the primary way to avoid that.
  • But I'm very open to taking a look at that. Thank you. You, Mr. Chairman.
  • And that opening ceremony was so meaningful. I just want to thank you for all.
Keywords: 996, all
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • After some brief opening remarks, I'll ask the participants on our first panel to join us at the table
  • I sense much more we're open to looking at all of this.
  • I sense much more we're open to looking at all of this.
  • And with that, we'll open it up to public comments. Thank you all very much.
  • And with that, we'll open it up to public comments.
Summary: The hearing focused on California wildfire resilience, with the first panel discussing statewide funding, policy, and strategic priorities, and the second panel shifting to home hardening and defensible space. The LAO outlined the state’s wildfire risk, the large increase in resilience spending in recent years, and the fact that most funding has been one-time rather than ongoing. Testimony emphasized that wildfire risk varies greatly by region, that the state must balance response spending with prevention, and that success should be measured more carefully than by acres treated alone. Witnesses also noted the importance of local, federal, utility, and Proposition 4 funding sources, as well as the need for long-term maintenance and strategic prioritization rather than scattered projects. Cal Fire leadership and other witnesses stressed that California’s wildfire problem is not uniform: forested areas, chaparral, and wildland-urban interface communities require different strategies. In Northern California and forested watersheds, speakers emphasized fuels reduction, prescribed and cultural burning, strategic fuel breaks, watershed protection, and maintaining forest health. In Southern California, testimony focused on wind-driven fires, ember intrusion, ignition prevention along roads and power lines, and the limits of large-scale vegetation clearing. Several witnesses argued that the state should invest where it can leverage local and regional partnerships, support capacity-building programs like Regional Forest and Fire Capacity, and improve data systems to track treatment effectiveness and project outcomes. Members repeatedly pressed witnesses on how to prioritize limited funds, asking what should be done more of, less of, and first. The chair argued that protecting homes and communities through hardening and defensible space should be a major priority, especially near structures, while also acknowledging the need for broader landscape work and watershed protection. There was discussion of incentives such as insurance discounts, property tax treatment, and community certification for hardened homes, along with the need for multiple payers rather than relying on the state alone. Cal Fire reported new and expanding data tools, including treatment trackers, defensible space inspection dashboards, and a fuels treatment effectiveness program that evaluates whether nearby treatments affected wildfire behavior. No votes were taken because the hearing was informational only.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs Mar 26th, 2025

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • everything else that goes on there, and they are a critical part of our national parks. ...church is open
  • They provide the security we need to be able to leave those churches open, not only for the buildings
  • You kind of hit on it when you opened up your statement, but just out of curiosity, since you did mention
  • not fall into the above category, which is most police officers in Texas, your files are subject to open
  • that's happening through other legal processes that allow access to these materials, not through the Open
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

2026 Legislative Session - Day Forty Three - Monday, March 30

Missouri House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The clerk will ring the bell and open the board. Thank you. Thank you.
  • The clerk will ring the bell and open the board.
  • The clerk will ring the bell and open the board.
  • The clerk will ring the bell and open the board.
  • The clerk will ring the bell and open the board.
Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the House Journal by roll call vote, 135-1. Members then observed a moment of silence for a constituent killed in a roadway tragedy, and several members introduced guests, including family members, veterans, students, and a child celebrating his birthday on the dais. The chamber then considered a series of bills. HB 2944, dealing with automatic continuation of a senior property tax freeze without annual reapplication, passed 145-0. HB 2230/2978, addressing school instructional methods by limiting excessive screen-based instruction and promoting cursive writing, passed 143-10 after extended debate over technology use in elementary schools. HB 1825, removing sheriffs and prosecutors from county salary commissions with a Boone County carve-out, passed 152-0. HB 1840, creating a Purple Alert system for missing individuals with developmental disabilities, passed 153-0, and its emergency clause was adopted 143-8. HB 1623, allowing emergency suspension or restriction of licenses for massage therapists and chiropractors, passed 103-48. HB 3279, moving the Community Service Commission to the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, passed 151-0. HB 2508, clarifying certificates of good standing for series LLCs and making them searchable, passed 152-0. HB 1963, allowing social workers to supervise after three years of practice, passed 151-0. HB 2408, removing the appropriation cap for grants serving the deaf-blind community, was perfected and printed. HB 3113, requiring Narcan in public buildings, designating October as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Month, and expanding school-law enforcement prevention efforts, was perfected and printed after discussion about funding and Narcan shelf life. HB 3000, fixing signature requirements for local audits based on population at the start of petitioning and adding a fire district surplus-sale amendment, was perfected and printed as amended. HB 2898, reviving and refining land bank authority and Chapter 141 judicial foreclosure tools, was perfected and printed after debate about neighborhood cleanup and title clearing. HB 1740, renamed Melanie’s Law, increasing penalties for intoxicated driving and strengthening ignition interlock requirements, was perfected and printed following emotional testimony from members and the sponsor’s explanation of the bill’s origins. At the end of the session, the House moved to announcements, including committee meetings and a fish fry notice. A member also issued a correction and apology regarding an earlier false report about Willie McGee. The House then adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Feb 18th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Environment, Energy & Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • With that, I see several sponsors here, so I'm going to open the public hearing first on HB 2426, Improving
  • I appreciate you all giving me the chance to pitch it to you, and I'm open for any questions.
  • With that, I'm going to set aside the hearing on that bill, and I would like to open up the hearing on
  • It opens the living spaces within the building so that you have natural airflow.
  • These are areas where parks and open space make up less than 1% of our total area.
Bills: HB2426 , HB2606
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Senate in Session Apr 24th, 2025

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • We just need a door open. We just need a little bit of grace.
  • I'm so glad that he's become more open and more out... ...in his own way.
  • You know, I'm very open about my faith.
  • You know, I'm very open about my faith.
  • Could we please open up the board for co-sponsorship of the amendment?
Summary: The Senate convened with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and others. Senators also observed a moment of silence for Pope Francis. After routine announcements, the chamber moved to the special order calendar and took up a long series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills before final passage. Among the measures approved were bills creating an expedited DNA testing grant program for local law enforcement, adding aggravating factors in capital cases involving gatherings for religious, school, or government activities, requiring state health coverage for fertility preservation services for cancer patients, authorizing indemnification for commuter rail providers, prohibiting abandonment of migrant vessels in Florida waters, and creating new specialty license plates. The Senate also passed bills on Alzheimer’s awareness, relocating the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University, charter schools, sex offender registration, utility worker protections, juvenile justice, student mental health reporting, foster home licensure transfers, water access facilities, Florida Virtual School, school readiness, sexual images involving children, tampering with electronic monitoring devices, certified recovery residences, the FSU Election Law Center, the Office of Faith and Community, and bonuses for county property appraiser employees. Several other bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, officers injured in the line of duty, school social workers, and Brownfields. Debate was especially extensive on the Office of Faith and Community bill, where an amendment to bar political activity by office staff was offered but failed 13-23 after arguments over election-related communications and the scope of existing law. The certified recovery residences bill also drew notable debate, with supporters emphasizing housing as essential to recovery and opponents raising concerns about implementation and local control. Most other bills passed with little or no opposition, though a few drew dissenting votes, including the capital aggravating factors bill, charter schools, and the Office of Faith and Community measure.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Senate in Session Apr 24th, 2025

Florida Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senators and guests in the gallery, please rise for the opening prayer to be given by Rabbi Moshe Umatz
  • We just need a door open. We just need a little bit of grace.
  • It's wide open for anybody that wishes to. Additional question. Seeing none.
  • You know, I'm very open about my faith.
  • Could we please open up the board for co-sponsorship of the amendment?
Summary: The Senate convened with an opening prayer by Rabbi Moshe Umatz, the Pledge of Allegiance led by pages, and several introductions and recognitions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and a moment of silence for Pope Francis. The chamber then moved to the special order calendar after a motion to reconsider SB 1080, which was temporarily postponed. Several bills were also set aside during the day, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, and school social workers. The Senate passed a series of bills, often substituting House companions for Senate bills. These included funding for expedited DNA testing grants for local law enforcement (SB 1072/HB 847), additional aggravating factors in capital cases involving religious, school, or government gatherings (SB 984/HB 693), fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients (SB 924/HB 677), commuter rail indemnification for Miami-Dade and Broward counties (SB 916/HB 867), restrictions on disposing of migrant vessels in Florida waters (SB 830), specialty license plates including Miami Northwestern and several colleges and institutions (SB 824), an Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness campaign (SB 398), relocation of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University (SB 364), charter school changes allowing parent conversion and municipal job-engine charter schools (SB 140), sex offender registration reporting changes (SB 1654/HB 1351), penalties for assaulting utility workers (SB 1386), juvenile justice revisions and truancy process updates (SB 1344), reporting of student mental health outcomes (SB 1310/HB 969), foster home license transfer simplification (SB 1174/HB 989), water access facility funding and boating industry incentives (SB 1162/HB 735), Florida Virtual School operational changes (SB 1122), school readiness program support for children with disabilities (SB 1102), sexual image offenses involving minors (SB 1180/HB 757), age-related defenses in child sex offense cases (SB 1136/HB 777), tampering with electronic monitoring devices (SB 1054/HB 437), certified recovery residences and local zoning accommodations (SB 954), and the FSU Election Law Center (SB 892). Most of these bills passed with strong bipartisan support, though SB 984 and SB 140 drew some opposition. One of the most extensive debates centered on SB 820, codifying the Office of Faith and Community. Senator Polsky offered an amendment to bar political activity by office staff, citing emails and campaign-related communications tied to Amendment 4; the amendment failed on a 13-23 vote. Senators then debated the bill’s relationship to state election law, free speech, and the role of faith-based outreach. Supporters emphasized the office’s service network and reported benefits to children and families, while some senators raised concerns about interfaith representation and political use of government resources. The bill was then read a third time and the Senate proceeded toward a final vote as the transcript ended.
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Session - 2026-03-18 - 2:32PM

Vermont House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This mindset shift is key to advancing state-level strategies which decenter compliance as a primary
  • outcome and more compliance as a primary outcome and more deeply<00:31:37.720><c> consider</c><00:31
  • </c><00:54:09.960><c> function</c> enforcement duties as a primary function enforcement duties as a primary
  • </c> crowdfunding platforms, direct primary crowdfunding platforms, direct primary care<01:47:52.560>
  • The primary change can be found in 33 V.S.A. 5288A.2.
Keywords: 926, house, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Education Policy Committee 3/25/25

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • meeting laws, and they say are open to that idea as well.
  • , as I said, that's one of the reasons why they're so open to having open meeting laws so that people
  • , as I said, that's one of the reasons why they're so open to having open meeting laws so that people
  • one of the reasons why they're so open to<00:51:29.520><c> having</c><00:51:29.760><c> open</c><00:51
  • I think if we don't say that, it will leave it open to interpretation.
Keywords: 1183, house
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Law & Justice Dec 4th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • And then we made decisions on where to open based on where they were.
  • roadmap for opening statewide at the same time.
  • In order to open on the east side, we're going to need 54 investigators to get started.
  • Since we opened in Region 1, we have only responded to Region 1.
  • Of the 1,300 open cases right now, roughly 619 are being handled by OPD contractors.
Summary: The committee received agency updates on several behavioral health and justice programs. The Health Care Authority reported that assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) has expanded from two counties to eight, with a ninth expected in December, and described AOT as a court-ordered, least-restrictive treatment model that depends on close coordination among courts, treatment providers, and local officials. The agency also reviewed Joel’s Law, which lets family members, guardians, conservators, or tribes petition for an initial involuntary detention when they disagree with a designated crisis responder’s decision. Judges Ferreira and Larson said petition use has increased significantly statewide and in Snohomish County, but many cases do not proceed beyond the initial detention stage; they also noted family frustration, disjointed processes, and bed shortages as ongoing issues. Committee members asked about expansion criteria, the law’s effectiveness, and how the system fits together with other mental health interventions. The Attorney General’s Office presented on the hate crimes and bias incidents hotline created by SB 5427. The hotline began a pilot in King, Clark, and Spokane counties on July 1, 2025, with a statewide launch planned for 2027. Officials said the advisory committee helped shape the referral process, intake questions, outreach materials, and public branding. In the first five months, the hotline received 301 reports, with roughly 45% from King County and about 38% from outside the pilot counties; 42% requested follow-up, and only about a quarter of those wanted law enforcement referral. Testimony emphasized that the hotline is non-emergency, anonymous if desired, and focused on referrals rather than investigation. Members asked about why callers do not seek law enforcement involvement, how the hotline compares with Oregon’s launch, and what kinds of incidents are being reported. The Office of Independent Investigations reported progress on its work investigating police deadly force fatalities. Director Roger Rogoff said the agency has grown to 66 employees, including 31 investigators, and has completed six fatality investigations, with two public final reports posted. He said the office now operates in Region 1 and plans to expand statewide as staffing allows, with a future east-side expansion dependent on additional investigators. He also said the office has 29 requests to review prior cases, but those reviews are time-intensive and limited to cases with new evidence. Committee members asked about staffing needs, local cooperation, and whether the office conducts parallel investigations; Rogoff said OII performs the criminal investigation, while agencies may still do administrative reviews. The committee then heard a lengthy panel on public defense caseload standards and funding. The Washington State Bar Association, Washington Defender Association, county representatives, and city representatives all discussed the new caseload standards and the implementation timeline. Speakers said the standards reflect modern public defense realities but warned that funding, attorney recruitment and retention, office space, and data collection remain major barriers. Survey results from county offices showed wide variation in readiness, with many counties uncertain about timelines and most citing lack of funding as the biggest obstacle; attorney attrition was also described as high. County and city representatives argued that the new standards will require far more attorneys and support staff, and that local governments cannot absorb the cost without substantial state funding. They urged the Legislature to increase state support, improve workforce pipelines, and address structural issues in the public defense system.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Public Safety Committee Jun 9th, 2026

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • We'll keep it open for others to add on. Thank you, everybody.
  • I remain open to the possibility of addressing the opposition's concerns, but of course we would have
  • Often, the person who is detained is also the primary breadwinner for that household and contributes
  • and her bra open and she is fully exposed, we know that law enforcement, both from the police side as
  • and her bra open and she is fully exposed, we know that law enforcement, both from the police side as
Committee: House Public Safety
Keywords: 988, house, all