Video & Transcript : 'legislative' :
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NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate Chamber Feb 9th, 2026 at 11:18 am
New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- President, I move that we go to the order of business, third reading of legislation.
- Thank you. our business third reading of legislation. I yield to Senator R.M. Mr.
- President, I move that we go to that our business third reading of legislation.
- There's been a request. ...to that order of business, third reading of legislation.
- President, unanimous consent: we go to the order of business, introduction of legislation.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- I think that that's one of the most important things we as legislators should be able to convey to our
- I'm the legislative director for Missouri Department of Revenue.
- seller legislation.
- legislative body really needs to be zeroed in on personal property tax right now. Thank you.
- I'm also the legislative chair for the Missouri State Assessors Association.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Rules and Administration, report that we have reviewed and approved the House Journal of the 25th Legislative
- House Concurrent Resolution 7 by the State Affairs Committee, relating to legislative appropriations.
- This piece of legislation uses what is called a credible threat of a convention by trying to get to 33
- From last year, and I have spoken with the good lady from two, because I love the legislation.
- They have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to lobby legislators and to go after legislators in their
Summary:
The Idaho House convened with a quorum, approved the House Journal, and received committee reports printing House Bills 593-599 and advancing several bills, including HB 544, HB 540, HB 541, HB 569, SB 1222, and SJM 108. The House also introduced and referred new bills HB 600-605, covering public records, collective bargaining and taxpayer funding of unions, foreign laws, Capitol Mall/camping and state property management, sex offender registration, and tax subtractions for tips and overtime. Several other measures were moved to second reading, and the chamber briefly went at ease while waiting on Appropriations.
The main floor debate centered on House Concurrent Resolution 25, a call under Article V for a balanced budget amendment. Supporters argued the federal debt is unsustainable, that Idaho already balances its budget, and that a convention threat is needed to force Congress to act. Opponents warned a constitutional convention could become a runaway process, create opportunities for lobbying and corruption, and even alter the ratification rules; some also argued the real problem is the monetary system and federal spending incentives, not just the absence of a balanced budget amendment. Members cited historical precedent, Article V, and concerns about delegate selection and sideboards throughout the debate.
After extensive debate, the House passed HCR 25 by a vote of 36 ayes to 34 nays, with the title approved and the resolution sent to the Senate. The House then held remaining third-reading bills in place until Monday, heard several personal privilege announcements and committee schedule notices, and adjourned until 11 a.m. Monday, February 9, 2026.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- I think this is good legislation.
- I think this is good legislation, and it protects the surveillance.
- I think this is good legislation.
- I think this is good legislation, and it protects the surveillance.
- Can make that determination in a piece of legislation. A follow-up.
Keywords:
motor vehicle, accident, notification, liability, civil action, gender neutral, SB1456, Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence, sunset extension, sunset law, breath alcohol testing, DUI, DWI, drunk driving, drug testing, chemical testing, field sobriety, roadside screening, blood test, saliva test
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 1226 by Senator Rader, which would add property damage to the state’s leaving-the-scene statute so a driver who damages property and leaves would be treated similarly to a vehicle accident. After brief questions about whether the driver would need to wait for law enforcement or the property owner, the bill advanced unanimously, 6-0.
Several sunset-extension bills from Senator Burstrom were then considered. Senate Bill 1456 would extend the Board of Tests for Alcohol and Drug Influence to 2036 and passed 6-1. Senate Bill 1462 would extend the Oklahoma Organized Retail Crime Task Force to 2036; members questioned whether a task force created in 2023 needed such a long extension, but it still passed 6-2. Senate Bill 1463 would extend the Polygraph Examiners Board to 2036 and passed 8-1, with some members again objecting to the 10-year sunset length.
The committee also advanced Senate Bill 1980 by Senator Logan, which updates larceny and forgery language to cover gift cards, gift certificates, and redemption information when possessed or used with intent to defraud. Members pressed the author on whether the offense would be a misdemeanor or felony and on the bill’s scope, but the measure passed 7-2. Senate Bill 1479 by Senator Stewart, dealing with release of crime- and collision-scene information by first responders, was amended to strike the title after concerns about scope and private entities; it then passed 6-2. Senate Bill 1608 by Senator Frick, as amended, would make school location and employer information searchable in sex offender and violent offender registries, and it passed 6-2.
Finally, Senate Bill 1923 by Senator Murdoch would prohibit inmates from accessing social media, prompted by a constituent’s concerns about inmates contacting victims’ families through contraband cell phones. Members questioned whether the bill was necessary given existing DOC policies and whether it should address tablets as well; an amendment was withdrawn, and the bill passed 7-1. The committee also laid over Senate Bill 1612 and concluded its Public Safety agenda for the week.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight Feb 3rd, 2026
Senate Committee on Post Audit and Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- You cannot legislate a board member to ask a question or to read a report.
- I should have mentioned that we're getting hammered by legislators.
- We will need to jointly plan and administer a legislative strategy.”
- If that has to be enumerated in legislation, that's something that we should discuss.
- But then you're sort of... ...legislation, that's something that we should discuss.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- This legislation from last session sees to close the loophole regarding materials harmful to minors.
- Nothing in this legislation addresses banding classical literature or sexual orientation, gender identity
- Please reject this legislation.
- We're in strong support of Florida family voice of this legislation.
- So apparently there is a Florida dilemma where after this legislative session actually might see more
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Jan 26th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm a budget policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
- This is also the first page of the legislative budget book, if it might look familiar.
- This is also the first page of the legislative budget book if it might look familiar.
- Chairman, there was no legislative decision based on that.
- I'm a budget policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office.
Summary:
The joint Senate Finance and House Appropriations committee reviewed the Idaho Department of Correction budget, beginning with an agency-wide overview and then moving through management services, state prisons, county and out-of-state placement, community corrections, community-based substance use disorder treatment, and medical services. Analysts and the director explained that the department’s budget is heavily driven by personnel, contracts, medical costs, and population pressures, with dedicated funds such as inmate labor and probation/parole receipts declining in cash balance. Members asked about vacancies, overtime, holdback impacts, software licensing, hepatitis C funding, and the department’s use of contracts and technology. The committee also heard that some planned reductions tied to the governor’s holdback remain in place despite the agency being exempted, including cuts to Recidivis, GEO-related services, and some technology purchases, while body-worn cameras were kept in place because of safety and accountability benefits.
A major portion of the discussion focused on rising incarceration and housing costs. The director said the department is near capacity, with more people coming in than leaving, and that county jail and out-of-state placements are increasing because state facilities are full. Analysts described the county jail and out-of-state placement budget as highly volatile and based on updated population forecasts, with supplemental and ongoing requests increasing significantly. Members also asked about mandatory minimums, criminal aliens in custody, and the cost of housing inmates in state versus out-of-state facilities. The director said Idaho’s per-day direct prison cost is about $85, or about $95 with administrative costs, while the Arizona contract rate is about $85 per day.
The committee also discussed rehabilitation and recidivism-reduction programs, including education, work programs, community reentry centers, and the Bridge 8 tablet system. The director said the tablets are funded through inmate phone-related charges and are used for educational and rehabilitative purposes, not because the state is required to provide them. She said community reentry centers have shown an 11% lower recidivism rate for participants, and that the department has previously eliminated ineffective programs after evaluation. Members asked for more information on inmate labor contracts, hepatitis C treatment funding, and the cost and effectiveness of various programs. The meeting ended before all questions were resolved, and the committee adjourned to continue work groups the next morning.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
- And we do have our legislative report, too, which is from 2024.
- And we do have our legislative report too, which is from 2024.
- As a result, House Bill 1543, which was agency request legislation, was passed into law.
- House Bill 1543, which was agency request legislation, was passed into law.
- We had a big and productive legislative session last year when we passed House Bill 1543.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Local Government Jan 15th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Again this legislation will increase the support that our first responders have in being able to make
- We know legislation like this can cause concern. We support amendments to address those concerns.
- This legislation is about flexibility, transparency, and community choice.
- But we realized it just wouldn't work for us without a legislative fix.
- Treating the 2022 statute as an ongoing alternative undermines that legislative intent.
Keywords:
cemetery districts, elections, local governance, public policy, administrative procedures, fire protection, districts, emergency services, funding, legislation, tax exemption, land transfer, governmental entity, property tax, current use classification, zero emission, cargo handling, port district, environmental impact, grant allocation
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Government Efficiency Jan 15th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Government Efficiency
Transcript Highlights:
- And I just want to thank you for offering this common-sense legislation.
- I'm Zach Wyatt, the Legislative Director for the Missouri Department of Revenue.
- And it's all part of the legislation that you guys passed. It was two sessions ago.
- And it's all part of the legislation that you guys passed. It was two sessions ago.
- But sometimes the legislation that goes through here, issues, those things like that.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Local Government Jan 15th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- To establish a district by resolution, the legislative authority of a city or town... ...must adopt a
- This legislation is about flexibility, transparency, and community choice.
- But we realized it just wouldn't work for us without a legislative fix.
- Treating the 2022 statute as an ongoing alternative undermines that legislative intent.
- Undermines that legislative intent.
Summary:
The Senate Local Government and State Parks Committee heard several bills focused on local government finance, land use, and public safety. SB 5903 would deem a cemetery district commissioner elected if only one qualified candidate files, with sponsor Senator Cortez saying it would save ballot-printing costs and local resources; there was no testimony in opposition. SB 6037 would create or modify a voter-approved option for cities and towns to form a single-city fire protection district, adjust levy and notice rules, allow administrative service contracts with the city, and clarify commissioner elections; Senator Cortez and multiple city and fire officials said it would give communities more flexible, locally controlled funding tools for fire service, while committee members asked about how it would work and the fiscal impact. SB 5983 would exempt certain current-use land transferred to a government entity for right-of-way from rollback taxes when the transfer is tied to development conditions and stays within a 20% acreage limit; Senator Leas described it as helping a family farm avoid an unfair tax bill, and there was no testimony on the bill.
The committee also heard SB 5995, which would remove the 2031 sunset on the prohibition against using port funds to buy fully automated marine container cargo handling equipment. The sponsor and labor witnesses argued the bill protects jobs, keeps public dollars from underwriting automation, and still allows zero-emission, human-operated equipment; port and labor representatives testified in strong support, while the sign-in sheet showed substantial public interest both for and against. SB 6016 would change how urban growth area swaps treat critical aquifer recharge areas, making the rules for annual and periodic updates more consistent and allowing swaps if they do not increase net CARA acreage within the UGA; the sponsor, Commerce, housing, business, and development interests said it was a technical fix that supports housing and consistency, while one witness warned it could weaken groundwater protections and create litigation risk.
Finally, the committee heard SB 6066, which would let counties, cities, towns, or WSDOT designate “accident risk zones” on roads with repeated crashes, require a public hearing and engineering review, double certain traffic penalties in the zone, and dedicate half the extra revenue to safety improvements before dissolving the zone. Supporters from cities, counties, and Pasco said it could help address dangerous intersections and fund fixes, though several witnesses raised liability and implementation concerns and asked for further stakeholder work. No votes were taken in the transcript; the chair closed each hearing after testimony and sign-in counts were noted.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Jan 14th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Early Learning & K-12 Education
Transcript Highlights:
- I hope this becomes a role model for all Washington State legislation, and with this and...
- I hope this becomes a role model for all Washington State legislation.
- members about this legislation.
- So the bill before you has a substitute version of legislation that was introduced last year.
- Last week, Maine became the eighth state to pass legislation. I hope Washington can be next.
Keywords:
school construction, school facilities, capital budget, school plant project, state funding assistance, school construction assistance program, on-base schools, military base, Department of Defense school, military families, public school facilities, instructional space, Superintendent of Public Instruction, SIP, school district capital funding, school housing burden, rapid growth, enrollment growth, free and reduced-price meals, alternative learning experience
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- the audit and special report scheduled to be presented to the standing committees and the full Legislative
- This report is issued in response to a request for legislative audit to conduct a review of scholarships
- Legislative audit tested 10% of students who participated in the program for scholarship eligibility
- The program rules, and I believe this is reflected in the legislative audit report, allowed for such
- So I don't know if we could legislate the creation of intent.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Today, for the 2026 legislative session, Today, for the 2026 legislative session, occurring during America's
- The federal legislation creates a rural health transformation grant totaling $50 billion over the next
- a national model for creating a rural renaissance whereby local communities Florida's legislation, a
- This amendment adds legislative findings and gives the Department of Education clear direction on how
- But this legislation provides an education stabilization fund of $250 million.
Summary:
The Senate Appropriations Committee met with a quorum present and took up two bills. The first, SB 250 on rural communities by Senator Simon, was described as a broad rural development package creating an Office of Rural Prosperity, a Renaissance grant program, housing and transportation investments, added funding for rural education consortiums, and health care initiatives for rural areas. Senator Harrell asked about overlap between road funding programs, and the sponsor explained that eligible counties could receive both SCRAP and FARM funding. Several organizations waived in support or spoke in support, and the bill was reported favorably by unanimous vote.
The committee then heard SB 318, the committee substitute for educational scholarship programs by President Gates. The bill was presented as a response to Auditor General findings about the rapid growth and administration of Florida’s school choice and scholarship programs. It would separate Family Empowerment Scholarship funding from the FEFP, require more frequent student enrollment verification, lower scholarship funding organization administrative fees, require return of overpayments, create a student ID system, establish a $250 million stabilization fund, require annual audits, and direct DOE to recommend future program administration through competitive procurement. Gates also offered five amendments, including technical changes to eligibility documentation and a substantive amendment requiring a DOE report on future administration and competitive selection; all five amendments were adopted.
During debate and public testimony, senators and witnesses discussed accountability, software solutions, reimbursement delays, monthly attestations, and impacts on public schools and families. Supporters and opponents alike raised concerns about bureaucracy, fraud prevention, special education services, and whether the bill would help or burden parents. Gates said the bill aimed to fix tracking and payment problems without capping the program, and he noted the IEP timeline would be aligned with public school timelines. After debate, the committee reported CS for SB 318 favorably by unanimous vote, and then adjourned.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Natural Resources Committee Sep 12th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- It's something that the legislators that represent Kern County have been talking about: how this lack
- Importantly, this legislation does not allow for oil and gas drilling within 3,200 feet of a sensitive
- We do not have a position on the legislation.
- We do not have a position on the legislation.
- And I think that they will be legislative conversations that will require ongoing dialogue, but also
Summary:
The Assembly Natural Resources Committee heard three major bills. SB 237, by Senator Grayson, proposed a package of fuel-supply and permitting changes aimed at stabilizing gasoline prices during California’s energy transition. Supporters, including state officials, Kern County representatives, labor groups, and industry groups, said it would help retain in-state refining and drilling capacity, reduce price spikes, and protect jobs. Opponents, including environmental justice and conservation groups, argued it would expand oil drilling without enough community protections and would not meaningfully address climate goals. After extensive testimony and questions about emissions, sunsets, and long-term strategy, the committee passed SB 237 on a due pass vote, with some members voting no or not voting.
SB 352, by Senator Reyes, sought to strengthen implementation of AB 617, the community air protection program, by codifying the Environmental Justice Bureau in the Department of Justice, extending monitoring requirements, and requiring annual legislative reporting. Supporters said the bill would improve accountability and ensure that funding for impacted communities actually produces emissions reductions. Some environmental justice advocates were neutral or not fully supportive because they wanted stronger language, while business and industry groups opposed the bill, arguing it was added late and duplicated existing processes. The committee approved SB 352 on a due pass vote.
SB 840, by Senator Limon, was the cap-and-invest reauthorization package. It would update offset protocols, adjust how revenues are spent, and continue funding for key climate, housing, transit, and community programs, including AB 617. Support came from environmental groups, labor, local governments, housing advocates, and clean transportation organizations, while some agricultural interests objected that the package did not sufficiently prioritize climate-smart agriculture and methane reduction programs. The committee passed SB 840 on a due pass vote as well. All three measures were later confirmed out of committee after calls were lifted.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, as you are aware, Governor Abbott added legislation related to a groundwater study in East Texas
- Setting aside the fact that there are numerous examples of legislative measures like this that have been
- If you wanted to add to that bill, also enabling legislation for Houston County, I think that would be
- That meant that a lot of legislative bodies considered it and worked on it for a while because the High
- On this legislation, we recognize the importance of the issues addressed by these bills.
Keywords:
groundwater, conservation, water permits, sustainability, resource management, 997, house, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- To respectfully urge you to support this legislation and get it to the finish line.
- Hopefully, we get legislation done this session that could make that better, but as of current right
- Involved in drafting this legislation, I actually think that it probably should be its own section.
- And so your legislation, Mr.
- Bettencourt's legislation, is critically important for re-establishing trust in our elections.
Keywords:
voter registration, electronic, Texas election law, Signature verification, DPS, internet application, Texas Election Code, signature verification, online application, data security, electronic application, Department of Public Safety, information security, electronic voter registration, voting technology, voter access, state election laws, digital signature, election irregularities, audit
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Business meeting to consider pending calendar business; to be immediately followed by a hearing to examine certain pending nominations. Apr 30th, 2025 at 08:30 am
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Legislation of which I'm pleased to be the prime sponsor.
- We will reverse the order that I described slightly by going to the legislation first and then turning
- Turning to the pending legislation, we'll consider the Lee Heinrich... amendment that was circulated
- It achieves the policy objectives. that we share with companion legislation that passed the House with
- Nevada, you would support that if there were superseding legislation?
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you for bringing this legislation forward.
- We support legislation like this throughout the United States.
- If Texas were to pass this, it would be the fifth state to pass legislation like this.
- Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to present this legislation.
- Okay, we support the legislation on consumer bill.
Bills:
HB854, HB 1052, HB1642, HB2076, HB3042, HB3695, HB3787, HB4062, HB4092, SB213, SB493, SB896, HB5519, HB4635
Keywords:
insurance, replacement cost, homeowner's policy, renter's policy, condominium insurance, property damage, claims process, telemedicine, teledentistry, telehealth, health benefit plan, insurance coverage, out-of-state services, anxiety, pain management, contraceptive devices, women's health, medical procedures, healthcare, laboratory
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 7 on Accountability and Oversight Apr 23rd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We're holding this hearing today during an important point in the legislative process.
- So it begins now, right, with legislative changes that are taking place both at the federal and state
- So, what we're waiting for is those changes to take place, legislative changes or any other form changes
- that takes place at the federal level or late legislation at the state level, or a pandemic.
- Policy and legislative developments to assess potential impacts on funds that the state receives from