Video & Transcript : 'Senate Bill 179' :

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MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Taxes Committee 3/11/26

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • You are a stickler about having no other tax bill except a tax bill and sometimes conformity bill.
  • The federal OBBBA bill increased the total dollar limit on the section 179 deduction and also increased
  • </c> could describe the bill. could describe the bill.
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  • The changes in the federal tax bill increased the section 179 deduction to $2.5 million, with a phaseout
Bills: HF3127 , HF3816 , HF3814 , HF3815 , HF3817
Committee: House Taxes
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • So let us get started by bringing up Austin's own State Senator, Sarah Eckhardt.
  • Senator Sarah Eckhardt: Thank you so much, Representative Busey.
  • Senator Sarah Eckhardt: That's the very first thing we did.
  • Senator Sarah Eckhardt: The turnover rate is still very high, at 16.5%.
  • That's why I'm proud to have filed House Bill 343 and 247 along with the companions by Senator Sarah
Summary: The committee meeting focused on critical issues facing Texas state employees and retirees, highlighting the need for increased compensation and improved benefits. Senator Sarah Eckhardt and Representative John Busey presented new legislation aimed at addressing these longstanding problems, including proposed House Bills 343 and 247, which seek a $10,000 across-the-board pay increase for state employees. Senator Eckhardt emphasized the growing wage gap between public sector jobs and private sector offerings, which has led to high turnover rates and the loss of institutional knowledge. Public testimonies underscored the urgency of the issue as retirees shared their struggles with stagnant pensions amidst rising living costs.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Before you all today is House Bill 278.
  • Before you all today is House Bill 278.
  • I'm really proud to carry this bill this year.
  • I'm really proud to carry this bill this year.
  • I'm really proud to carry this bill this year.
Summary: The House Standing Committee on Agriculture met on March 5 and began with roll call, confirming a quorum. The committee spent much of the opening portion introducing guests, including FFA groups from Barren, Christian, and Pulaski counties, a fifth-grade student shadowing a member, and other visitors connected to agriculture and public service. The chair also recognized former Senator Joey Pendleton, who spoke briefly about his background and mentorship in Frankfort. The committee then heard House Bill 278, sponsored by Representative Josh Bray, which would allow Kentucky to use an existing USDA exemption for small poultry producers to process and sell poultry directly at farmers markets and similar venues. Testimony emphasized that the bill would not loosen food safety standards, but would instead require compliance with federal commercial food processing rules, sanitation requirements, HACCP plans, and labeling tied to the USDA exemption. Members raised questions about avian flu, traceability, refrigeration, and inspection; the sponsor and witnesses said the bill would preserve traceability by limiting sales to direct channels and that avian flu response would remain with the state veterinarian. The committee voted favorably on HB 278. The committee also considered House Bill 527, sponsored by Representative Susan Whitten, which would authorize licensed veterinary technicians to administer rabies vaccinations to dogs, cats, and ferrets under direct veterinarian supervision on the premises. Supporters said the measure would help free veterinarians for other work while maintaining safety, and noted rising rabies concerns in Kentucky. Members asked why ferrets were included, and witnesses explained that ferrets can contract rabies like other mammals and are routinely vaccinated along with cats and dogs. The committee then took a roll call vote and passed HB 527 with favorable expression. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Jurisprudence Apr 9th, 2025

Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Chair now lays out Senate Bill 13.304.
  • I'm testifying in support of Senate Bill 1335.
  • Senators, any questions for the Dean on Senate Bill 1760?
  • Senators, any questions for the Dean on Senate Bill 1760?
  • Thank you, Senator. Members, any questions for Senator Perry on Senate Bill 302?
Bills: SB302 , SB1335 , SB1734 , SB1760 , SB1975 , SB2127
Summary: The committee heard several probate, family law, judicial, property, and contract-related bills. Senate Bill 1335, relating to decedents’ estates, would remove outdated references to a clerk’s certificate, allow courts to remove personal representatives on their own motion with notice by qualified delivery method, and add independent administrators to provisions that referenced only independent executors; an estate-planning attorney testified in support, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1760, concerning guardianship transfer fees and procedures, was described as setting a $45 filing fee for transferred guardianship cases and clarifying completion and dismissal procedures; it received no testimony and was left pending. Senate Bill 2127 would shorten the eligibility period for retired judges to serve as visiting judges from eight years to six, restrict practice in their assigned region for two years, and require conflict-related certification; it also was left pending without testimony. Senate Bill 302 would shift the cost of a traveling probate judge to the requesting estate or parties rather than the county; one witness registered in favor, no one testified, and the bill was left pending. The committee then considered a committee substitute for Senate Bill 252, which would clarify the parental presumption in conservatorship cases, require non-parents seeking relief against a parent to file an affidavit showing significant impairment to the child if relief is denied, require courts to state specific findings when overcoming the presumption, confirm the clear-and-convincing standard, and clarify that agreed prior orders do not defeat the presumption. The substitute was explained as consensus language from a work group, public testimony was reopened, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 1734, on deed fraud, would create a streamlined ex parte process for property owners to have fraudulent deeds declared void, modeled on the fraudulent lien statute; county clerk and title association representatives testified that it would provide a low-cost self-help remedy for a growing problem, and the bill was left pending subject to the chair. Senate Bill 1975 would prevent Texas contractors from being forced to litigate disputes in foreign jurisdictions and require disputes to be handled in the county where the project is located; it was presented as a repeat of a previously vetoed bill and was left pending. Finally, the committee took up a substitute for Senate Bill 1940, concerning transfer-on-death style beneficiary designations for manufactured homes. The substitute would allow one or more beneficiaries instead of only one, transfer the interest to surviving designated beneficiaries who survive by 120 hours, extend the application period for transfer to 365 days, void the designation if not timely filed, and require mailing by certified or registered mail with return receipt requested. The substitute was adopted without objection. The committee then recessed subject to the call of the chair.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session Mar 12th, 2026

Washington Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Bill 6362 by Senator Housin. Referred to the Committee on Law and Justice. Senator Riccelli.
  • Senate Bill 6228.
  • Senate Bill 6347.
  • Senate Bill 6347.
  • Second Substitute Senate Bill 6182 and Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6346. Senator Riccelli.
Bills: SCR8410
Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, colors, pledge, and prayer, then approved the previous day’s journal and received gubernatorial appointments and House messages. It also introduced Senate Bill 6362 and referred it to the Law and Justice Committee. After caucus, the President signed a number of bills in open session. The chamber then took up several House-amended measures. Substitute Senate Bill 6225, a transportation bonding bill, was concurred in and passed 49-0 after remarks that it was needed to support the six-year transportation budget and historic maintenance investments. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6354, allowing direct sales by electric vehicle manufacturers such as Rivian and Lucid, was also concurred in and passed 47-2 after supporters said the House changes lowered consumer fees while preserving the fiscal effect. Engrossed Senate Bill 6228, dealing with tax preferences and pharmacy-related provisions, passed 26-23 after concurrence; Engrossed Senate Bill 6347, concerning estate tax changes, passed 39-10 after concurrence; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6260, which included changes to transitional kindergarten, National Board bonuses, alternative learning experience, Running Start, and electric bus depreciation, passed 26-23; and Substitute Senate Bill 6355, involving transmission authority governance, transparency, and eminent domain-related sideboards, passed 32-17. The Senate also resolved several House/Senate differences by receding or amending bills. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1408, funding the Seattle Community Development Authority, passed 49-0 after the Senate receded from its amendments. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1295, on literacy-related teacher standards and technical assistance, was returned to second reading, amended with a striking amendment, and then passed 48-1. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2215, concerning Climate Commitment Act compliance obligations for fuel supply, was similarly amended with a negotiated striking amendment to protect good-faith operators and then passed 49-0. The Senate then signed additional bills in open session and recessed for lunch and caucus.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session Mar 11th, 2026

Washington Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Substitute Senate Bill 5520, Senate Bill 5863, Senate Bill 5892, and gross substitute Senate Bill 5925
  • Substitute Senate Bill 5982 and gross substitute Senate Bill 6020.
  • In gross Senate Bill 6058, Senate Bill 6065.
  • Substitute Senate Bill 611 and gross substitute Senate Bill 6194. Substitute Senate Bill 629, 6269.
  • Senate Bill 6291 and Substitute Senate Bill 6309. Senator Riccelli. Thank you so much, Mr.
Bills: SCR8410
Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior day’s journal, suspended rules to allow committee work and additional floor resolutions, and referred committee and gubernatorial appointment reports as designated. It then took up several gubernatorial appointments in third reading. Megan Matthews was confirmed as director of the Washington State Office of Equity by a 45-2 vote, and Robert A. Zupon, Denise E. Gideon, Andrea Buchanan, Michelle R. Smith, and Edison A. Valerio were each confirmed to various community and technical college boards of trustees by large bipartisan margins. The chamber then considered Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2711, a transportation revenue and policy measure. After rejecting the Transportation Committee’s original striking amendment and adopting a narrower floor striking amendment, senators debated the bill’s changes, including repeal of the luxury aircraft tax and replacement with higher aircraft fuel taxes, registration fees, and an annual excise tax, along with technical corrections and safety-related transportation provisions. Supporters said the bill was a workable compromise that would sustain transportation funding and support future aviation investments; opponents argued it would raise costs on small aircraft owners and general aviation. The bill passed final passage 33-15. The Senate also adopted Senate Resolution 8703 honoring Senator Steve Conway for his 34 years of legislative service. Multiple senators spoke in praise of his leadership on labor, pensions, veterans, and district advocacy, as well as his institutional knowledge, mentorship, and personal integrity. Senator Conway then offered a personal statement thanking colleagues, staff, family, and constituents, and saying he would continue advocating for working people after leaving the Legislature. The Senate then recessed for lunch and caucus.