Video & Transcript : 'fairness in mitigation' :

Page 431 of 500
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 05/15/26

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Obviously, that's not fair and left a hole in the pension funding.
  • Obviously, that's not fair and left a hole in the pension funding.
  • </c> even in the funds. even in the funds.
  • </c> that are in the fund. that are in the fund.
  • </c> see that in our rules and you see it in see that in our rules and you see it in custom.<02:03:19.119
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Health Insurance Affordability Task Force, June 17, 2026 - AM

Health Insurance Affordability Task Force

Transcript Highlights:
  • in in other states. states. states.
  • in in for the for the conversation, in in in for the for the conversation, thank<00:34:22.800><c> you
  • :49.760><c> in</c> so they must have them in certain in in so they must have them in certain in in in
  • </c> in in terms of future premiums. in in terms of future premiums.
  • in there in the health care it's it's in there in the health care records.
Keywords: 916, all
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, April 7, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It ensures only schools who prioritize quality education at a fair price participate in the programs.
  • It ensures only schools who prioritize quality education at a fair price participate in the programs.
  • It ensures only schools who prioritize quality education at a fair price participate in the programs.
  • It ensures only schools who prioritize quality education at a fair price participate in the programs.
  • I ask all my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 970, the Fairness for Service Members and Their Families
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Education Finance - 03/03/26

Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • in our schools in terms of prevention.
  • I think that we do see in in the data.
  • c> mass</c> role at all in in perpetrators of mass role at all in in perpetrators of mass shootings?
  • So we just um... actually engaging in school shootings in actually engaging in school shootings in Roblox
  • </c> interested in getting the training uh in interested in getting the training uh in a<01:24:00.800
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Education Committee May 14th, 2025

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Jewish Voice for Peace, I'm also active in my synagogue in San Francisco, had a daughter in public school
  • in Palestine.
  • in the classroom.
  • this in this moment in time.
  • this legislation in this moment in time, but what may come.
Committee: House Education
Keywords: 988, house, all
US
Transcript Highlights:
  • How can this be viewed in any way as fair to American investors?
  • And we don't know how deep and how far the investment ecosystem is in... in private equity, in pensions
  • You know, I've had him in my office in Charleston, West Virginia, in the governor's office, and I had
  • I don't see how anybody can say that and say that in a fair, fair, fair way.
  • And why put it in there in the first place?
Summary: The meeting primarily addressed concerns regarding the impact of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on American investments and the financial security of retirees. The chair discussed legislation aimed at ensuring the protection of American investors against the risks posed by Chinese companies. There was a consensus among the members regarding the necessity to enforce existing policies that require compliance from foreign companies wishing to trade on American exchanges. The discussion included testimony from various stakeholders highlighting the urgent need to limit exposure to the CCP in retirement portfolios. Additionally, there were calls for increased accountability of regulatory bodies such as the SEC to better shield American investors from potential loss.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session Feb 9th, 2026

California Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • in clinics in California. $90 million to no-bid contracts for abortions in clinics in California.
  • They're here to put in their fair share.
  • As the great senator from Fair Oaks noted, there was a very long discussion in Budget Committee about
  • As the great senator from Fair Oaks noted, there was a very long discussion in Budget Committee about
  • As the great senator from Fair Oaks noted, there was a very long discussion in budget committee about
Summary: The Senate opened with roll call, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then moved through privileges of the floor to recognize several guests, including the St. Mary’s High School football team from Stockton for winning the 2025 state championship, Black-owned businesses honored by the California Legislative Black Caucus and California Black Chamber of Commerce, and students and guests visiting the Capitol. The Rules Committee reported Senate Resolution 77 to third reading, and the Senate approved the journals and proceeded to the daily file. The chamber then confirmed Tyler Sadwith as Chief Deputy Director for Health Care Programs at the Department of Health Care Services by a 33-0 vote. The main floor action was on Senate Resolution 77, which condemned racist and dehumanizing imagery shared by President Donald Trump depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Numerous senators from multiple caucuses spoke in support, framing the post as racist, dangerous, and part of a broader pattern of dehumanization; one Republican senator objected to the resolution’s language and process but said racism should be condemned. SR 77 was adopted on a 28-0 vote. The Senate then took up SB 106, a budget bill to create a one-time $90 million grant program to support family planning providers after federal cuts under H.R. 1 reduced reimbursements to Planned Parenthood and similar clinics. Supporters said the measure would preserve access to reproductive and preventive health care, especially in rural and underserved areas, while opponents criticized the bill for secrecy, no-bid contracting, and prioritizing abortion-related services over other budget needs such as rural hospitals and developmental disability services. After debate, the Assembly amendments were concurred in by a 26-9 vote. At the end of the session, the Senate moved to adjournment in memory, with Senator Choi offering a remembrance for Mitzi Ortiz, the city manager of Aliso Viejo, who died on December 22, 2025.
NV
Transcript Highlights:
  • day in court.
  • Anybody wishing to testify in support in person is invited forward to do so now in Carson City or Las
  • Starting here in Carson City, in person, if there's anybody wishing to testify in opposition, now is
  • The bulk of work in child welfare doesn't happen in a courtroom. It happens in mediations.
  • The bulk of work in child welfare doesn't happen in a courtroom. It happens in mediations.
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Keywords: 909, all
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Regulated Industries Jan 14th, 2025

Regulated Industries

Transcript Highlights:
  • I was board certified in condominium law and real estate law in 1992, and in condominium law in 2018.
  • But if you step in there in the morning and you see a little crack in it and you say, oh, I need to get
  • the building in January of '21 in boldface caps.
  • Thank you to all the professionals in this room who work to make condos safer and fair. I'm here.
  • Thank you to all the professionals in this room who work to make condos safer, fair.
Summary: The committee on Regulated Industries convened with a quorum and began a panel discussion focused on condominium milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies (SIRS), with members framing the topic as part of Florida’s post-Surfside condo safety reforms. The chair and panelists reviewed how the state got here, emphasizing that the problems predated Surfside and were driven by long-term deferred maintenance, underfunded reserves, and aging buildings. Panelists included representatives from Florida Realtors, engineering and reserve-study firms, a CPA, a community association attorney, and Broward County’s building safety official, all of whom described their roles in inspections, reserve planning, and code enforcement. Testimony centered on what inspectors are finding in the field. Panelists said the most common problems are not subsidence but wear-and-tear and maintenance failures, especially in stairways, balconies, roofs, parapet walls, waterproofing, and corrosion. They described examples of buildings with hidden deterioration, hurricane-exposed damage, and associations that were underfunded despite prior inspection regimes in Miami-Dade and Broward. Dr. Barbosa explained that Miami-Dade’s recertification program began in the 1970s and Broward’s in 2005, with current timelines generally requiring notice, a first milestone review, and then time to begin substantial repairs; she said the program has improved compliance but that SIRS has added confusion. Members also raised concerns about the cost and implementation of SIRS, including whether reports are being used to generate unnecessary work, whether contractors or firms have conflicts of interest, and whether the law’s use of “fully funded” is being misunderstood. Panelists said the statutory reserve requirement is better understood as baseline funding, not having all money in the bank immediately, and suggested clearer definitions and possibly changing the terminology to “adequately funded.” They also discussed the need to separate required structural items from optional or cosmetic items in reserve reports, improve transparency for buyers and lenders, and ensure associations provide documents through websites and other portals. No votes were taken. The committee used the meeting as an information-gathering session and signaled that more panels and discussion would follow, with members and witnesses agreeing that the state may need further clarification, education, and possible statutory adjustments to reduce confusion while preserving building safety.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I actually come from People Acting in Community Together, just in Santa Clara County, and I'm in strong
  • I actually come from People Acting in Community Together, just in Santa Clara County, and I'm in strong
  • This proposal is about fairness, efficiency, and restoring confidence in the appeals process, and property
  • in production, let’s fix it in post.
  • And in terms of total economic output in our state, $1.63 billion.
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation heard several bills, most of them referred to the suspense file because of their fiscal impact. AB 2465 and AB 1675 would deny state grants, loans, tax credits, or other benefits to companies doing business with ICE or related immigration-enforcement agencies; both drew strong support from immigrant-rights, labor, and community groups, and opposition from CalChamber and industry groups that argued the bills were overly broad and could affect unrelated federal contracts. AB 1633 would impose a 50% gross receipts tax on for-profit private immigration detention facilities, with supporters saying it would hold companies accountable for dangerous conditions and opponents warning it was punitive and could disrupt detention operations. The committee also heard AB 2089, which would streamline the welfare property tax exemption process for affordable housing, and AB 2250, a cleanup bill to clarify hemp enforcement laws; both were supported by affected industry and advocacy groups, while county assessors and tax collectors opposed AB 2089 unless amended over workload and implementation concerns. AB 2172, which would allow counties to use a single-member assessment appeals commissioner for complex property tax appeals, was the only bill taken up for a vote during the meeting. Supporters, including Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang, said the change would reduce a large backlog and speed resolution of appeals; the committee adopted amendments and passed the bill 4-0 to the Assembly Committee on Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 2319, creating a proposed post-production tax credit to keep film and television post-production work in California, with support from labor and industry representatives who said jobs and spending were leaving the state; the author said the bill still needed work on labor standards and the annual credit cap. Finally, AB 2403 was presented to create a commercial production tax credit to keep commercial shoots in California. The author and supporters said commercial production has declined sharply in the state and that other states are winning work through targeted incentives, while labor-backed witnesses argued the bill would protect middle-class jobs and local spending. The transcript ends during the presentation of AB 2403, before any vote or final action on that measure.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session Feb 9th, 2026

California Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • that are happening in our borders, in our detention facilities, in our prison system, in every single
  • in clinics in California. $90 million to no-bid contracts for abortions in clinics in California.
  • They're here to put in their fair share.
  • As the great senator from Fair Oaks noted, there was a very long discussion in Budget Committee about
  • As the great senator from Fair Oaks noted, there was a very long discussion in budget committee about
Summary: The Senate opened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several floor recognitions, including St. Mary’s High School football team for its first state championship and Black-owned businesses honored by the Legislative Black Caucus and Black Chamber of Commerce. The Rules Committee also reported Senate Resolution 77 to third reading. The chamber then confirmed Tyler Sadwith as Chief Deputy Director for Health Care Programs at the Department of Health Care Services and State Medicaid Director by a 33-0 vote. The main floor debate centered on SR 77, a resolution condemning racist and dehumanizing imagery posted by President Trump depicting former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. Supporters from multiple caucuses, including the Black, Latino, Jewish, LGBTQ, and API caucuses, described the post as racist, harmful, and part of a broader pattern of dehumanization and urged a public apology. A few Republicans objected to the resolution’s language and process, saying it was overly partisan or not collaborative, but the resolution was adopted on a 28-0 vote. The Senate also took up SB 106, a budget bill to provide $90 million in state funding for family planning providers, especially Planned Parenthood, after federal cuts under H.R. 1. Supporters argued the bill would preserve essential reproductive and preventive health services, especially in rural and underserved communities, and backfill lost reimbursements. Opponents criticized the bill’s transparency, no-bid contracting structure, and priorities compared with other needs such as distressed hospitals and developmental disability services. After debate, the Senate concurred in the Assembly amendments to SB 106 by a 26-9 vote.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Public Education Apr 22nd, 2025

Public Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • You live in my community in the area. Fourteen counties, the tier one.
  • In doing so, it aligns school protections with other areas already in place. ...already recognized in
  • in the bill.
  • It takes place in June, a little more humid than it is here in Austin—in Houston—in June at the Miller
  • To engage in the minimum requirements that's in this bill.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Jan 27th, 2025

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • for in-state tuition. ...in getting in-state tuition or someone not eligible for in-state tuition.
  • We invested in them and in their education.
  • colleges in Florida getting in-state tuition.
  • So here we are having to vote on a bill that, I guess, in fairness, we had two hours to read.
  • Bill that, I guess in fairness, we had two hours to read.
Summary: The Appropriations Committee took up SB 2B, a major immigration bill by Senator Gruters, described by supporters as a Trump-aligned package to strengthen Florida’s role in immigration enforcement. The bill would create a grant program for local law enforcement, expand jail-ICE agreements beyond sheriff-operated jails, establish a chief immigration officer and a state immigration enforcement council, require more coordination on E-Verify and detention-bed reporting, allow immigration status to be considered in bail decisions, increase penalties for certain offenses tied to illegal reentry and voting, and repeal in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students. Much of the sponsor’s presentation and debate emphasized focusing on criminal offenders, improving coordination with federal authorities, and using state resources to support detention and enforcement. Committee questioning focused heavily on the tuition-waiver repeal, reimbursement for jail costs, E-Verify coverage, and whether the bill could lead to street-level immigration enforcement in schools or churches. Senator Smith, Senator Pizzo, Senator Polsky, Senator Sharief, and others challenged the tuition repeal as unfair to students who were brought to Florida as children and argued for grandfathering current students or studying the fiscal impact first. Senator Fine defended the repeal as ending a state subsidy for people who are not lawfully present and argued the change would save tens of millions of dollars. Sheriff Bob Gualtieri testified that the bill was limited to jail-based enforcement, said there was no current street-level 287(g) program in Florida, and stated he did not believe the bill raised concerns for law enforcement or schools/churches. A representative of the Florida Supervisors of Elections supported the voting-related section, while a Florida Highway Patrol representative said state agencies would need additional funding if they were expected to take on more enforcement duties. The committee adopted Senator Gruters’ late-filed amendment correcting a drafting error. Senator Smith’s amendment to require an OPAGA study on the tuition-waiver policy was withdrawn after discussion, and his handwritten amendment to delete the repeal of in-state tuition for undocumented students failed on a roll-call vote. The bill then advanced as amended, with several members speaking in debate both for and against it. Supporters framed it as a focused public-safety and enforcement measure; opponents criticized the special-session process, the cost, and the tuition repeal’s impact on students already enrolled.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • As you just heard, in 2021, in recognition of the threat of plastic in our environments, to our oceans
  • Here in Washington, we operate two facilities, one in Vancouver and the other in Yakima, that together
  • In the last moments of the legislative session in 2020, Bill, my colleague here, was involved in the
  • in 2025.
  • That's why we put in place, unanimously, you put in place in '24, a five parts per million standard on
Summary: The committee held public hearings on several bills, beginning with SB 5965 on retail bags. Staff explained that the bill would prohibit single-use plastic and reusable film plastic carryout bags, raise the paper bag pass-through charge from 8 cents to 20 cents, exempt certain assistance-program customers from bag charges, and add manufacturer/distributor penalties. The sponsor and supporters, including environmental groups, Seattle Public Utilities, Tacoma, county solid waste representatives, and health advocates, argued the current law has led to thicker plastic bags and more plastic pollution, microplastics, and recycling contamination. Opponents from hospitality, grocery, retail, paper, and plastic bag industries said the bill would raise costs, create checkout confusion, burden food delivery and takeout operations, and amount to a de facto ban on paper bags as well; several urged waiting for more data on the current 12-cent fee. The hearing ended with a reported 1,240 non-testifiers on SB 5965, with 541 pro, 695 con, and 4 other. The committee then heard SB 6030 on plastic bags. Staff said the bill would allow film plastic and paper carryout bags if they meet recycled-content standards, keep the paper bag fee at 8 cents, reduce the plastic bag fee from 12 cents to 8 cents, and remove the minimum thickness standards for reusable film plastic bags while retaining recycled-content requirements and the SNAP exemption. No public testimony was taken on the bill, and the chair noted 208 non-testifiers, with 192 pro, 11 con, and 5 other. Finally, the committee heard SB 5975 on lead in cookware. Staff described it as a third-round update to the state’s cookware lead law, narrowing covered cookware, delaying the 10 ppm lead standard to 2030, and allowing compliance through FDA or European testing methods. Supporters, including some industry representatives, said the current law is unclear and difficult to enforce, that a workable test is still being developed, and that the bill would provide certainty and avoid unintended coverage of safe products. Opponents from Ecology, Health, environmental groups, and consumer advocates argued the bill would weaken Washington’s existing protections, create broad exemptions, and allow high-lead cookware to remain on the market; they also criticized shifting from total-content testing to leach testing. The hearing closed with 609 non-testifiers on SB 5975, with 54 pro and 552 con.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

March 11, 2025 - 08:00 AM

Transcript Highlights:
  • And now that the team is in place, when did they arrive in place?
  • in our silo.
  • They are in our document. I think they're in yours also.
  • they're in...” study in a couple of decades.
  • We face it in public business. We face it in private business.
Summary: The subcommittee met to review agency travel, budget reduction exercises, and member reports from agency meetings. Early discussion focused on the Department of Management Services (DMS), where members questioned the cost of travel for four out-of-state data/cyber staff and the secretary’s absence. DMS defended the hires as highly specialized enterprise cybersecurity and data personnel, said the positions were lawfully paid and posted, and explained that the staff work on statewide data cataloging and cyber risk reduction rather than agency-by-agency systems. Members also raised concerns about fleet inventory discrepancies and requested follow-up information on hiring, travel, and data inventory timelines. The chair said she would consider travel guardrails and possible reductions, and noted that DMS, the Lottery, and the Florida Commission on Human Relations did not meet the requested reduction target, while the Public Employee Relations Commission did not submit reductions. The committee then heard from the Florida Lottery about the secretary’s trip to Paris for the World Lottery Convention. Lottery staff said the trip was reimbursed through the multi-state lottery organization and was intended to share best practices and improve operations, though members questioned the value of the travel and requested reimbursement records and the trip agenda. The subcommittee also reviewed agency reduction exercises from several agencies. The Department of Revenue exceeded its target and was praised for frugality; DFS, the Florida Gaming Control Commission, the Office of Financial Regulation, the Office of Insurance Regulation, the Public Service Commission, the Division of Administrative Hearings, and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation each described how they met or approached their reduction goals, often through vacancies, reversions, or expense cuts. OIR warned that further reductions could hurt insurance regulation capacity, while OFR and PSC said their reductions were based on historical reversions and lower post-COVID travel or vacancy levels. Members then reported back on agency meetings. DMS members raised fleet tracking, real property audits, salary studies, and health plan savings ideas, and asked for follow-up on the Florida PALM project, cybersecurity grants, and state IT modernization. DFS members said the agency was efficient and that its Palm-related work and insurance consumer programs were important. Lottery members emphasized the agency’s revenue generation for education and its low administrative overhead. Gaming Control members highlighted storage costs for seized gaming equipment and suggested technology-based alternatives. PERC members said a union-related law had doubled their workload and asked for more staffing and possible AI assistance. OIR members stressed the need for a Tampa satellite office and more resources to recruit and retain specialized staff. The chair closed by saying the committee would continue reviewing travel, staffing, and reductions with an eye toward taxpayer value and transparency.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Civil Law and Procedure Mar 30th, 2026

Civil Law and Procedure

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm not going to sit in this chair. Last time I sat in that chair got a little rough in here.
  • Ben Harrison in support, Ray Morrow in support, Melissa Spring in support, and Corey Prick in support
  • Where is that exception in the legislation? Is it in there?
  • I was stuck in the back, way in the back over there when y'all walked in, but we would be...
  • I was stuck in the back, way in the back over there when y'all walked in.
Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 718, which would limit liability for landowners who allow free use of private property for aeronautical activities at non-public airports. The author said the bill was modeled on Arkansas law and was intended to help private airstrips. After brief questions about fees and the effective date, the bill was reported favorably without objection. House Bill 134, dealing with material harmful to minors online, was then amended to clarify that interactive computer services may not deliver harmful material to minor accounts they created, while removing algorithm restrictions and cure language; it was reported as amended. House Bill 410, which would require notification before recording direct in-person conversations, drew substantial testimony. The author said the bill was aimed at privacy concerns raised by wearable AI devices and hidden recording tools, and the adopted amendments changed the measure from consent to notification and added exceptions for first responders, evidence preservation, civil or administrative proceedings, criminal matters, and recordings in one’s own residence. Supporters said the bill protected ordinary people from secret recordings, while opponents warned it could chill family-law recordings, citizen journalism, HOA disputes, and other legitimate uses. The bill was ultimately reported as amended. House Bill 318, which would reduce the presumption of paternity period from 300 days to 150 days, was heavily criticized by family-law practitioners and a law professor who said the current 300-day rule tracks gestation and that shortening it would shift burdens onto mothers; the author then voluntarily deferred the bill. A companion study resolution, HCR 19, directing the Louisiana State Law Institute to study the presumption of parentage, was reported favorably. The committee also heard House Bill 970 on competing custody orders. The author described cases where different courts issued conflicting custody rulings for the same child, but judges and attorneys raised concerns about the bill’s “earliest order controls” rule, its effect on out-of-state orders, protective orders, and the lack of a clear mechanism for judges to discover prior orders. After testimony from judges and committee discussion about possible fixes and a unified filing system, the bill was voluntarily deferred. House Bill 163, another private-airstrip liability bill, was reported favorably, and House Bill 170 and House Bill 194, both dealing with construction/design professional contracts and preemptive periods, were reported as amended or favorably after testimony that they would align design-professional rules with contractor rules and keep Louisiana projects under Louisiana law. House Bill 254, limiting acts of donation of motor vehicles to certain relatives and charities, was reported as amended after discussion about tax treatment and possible loopholes. Finally, the committee began House Bill 485, a proposed constitutional amendment declaring parental rights fundamental and subjecting government restrictions to strict scrutiny. Supporters argued it would protect parents’ authority over children’s upbringing, education, care, and control, while opponents said the language was overly broad and could complicate child welfare, public health, and school safety measures. The author said the amendment would not protect abuse or neglect and was meant to ensure government interference meets strict scrutiny, but the transcript cuts off before final action on the measure.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Education Mar 25th, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • The one thing that we know for sure in Louisiana is that nearly one in four of our children in a household
  • Act 696 in 2018 and Act 745 in 2024 both intended for these services to be allowed in the classroom as
  • And that's in, so in Act 745 that was passed here in 2024, that sort of developed the criteria where
  • At that time, we led the world, actually, in economic strength and in innovation and in technology.
  • Some of us thrive in view of that, in spite of that.
Committee: House Education
Summary: The House Education Committee met on March 25, 2026, with a quorum present and heard a series of education-related bills and one resolution. The committee first took up HB 636 on hazing at public post-secondary institutions. Representative LaFleur presented the bill as a response to Caleb Wilson’s death, and family members, former Rep. Jason Hughes, and other supporters urged stronger prevention, reporting, and penalties. The committee adopted amendments adding implementation details and a lifetime ban on re-chartering an organization if hazing results in death, then reported the bill as amended as the “Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Act.” The committee then heard HB 218 on food insecurity screenings in public schools. LaFleur said the bill would formalize a process to identify hungry students and connect families to resources, with amendments tying the screening to existing McKinney-Vento forms and adding food-insecurity questions. Support came from charter school representatives, the Department of Education, and others, while Dr. Will Hall suggested involving caregivers and faith-based groups. The bill was reported with amendments. The committee also approved HB 626, which would require colleges and universities to provide suicide-prevention information, hotline access, and aggregated non-identifiable reporting on suicide risk. Rep. Jordan described it as a response to an uptick in suicides among college-age students, and the Board of Regents said most institutions already use telehealth or 988 resources. The bill was reported favorably. Next, the committee heard HB 749 on the administration of START, START K-12, and ABLE savings accounts. Rep. Carver said the bill would modernize and secure the program by allowing a third-party manager and online platform, while Treasury and Board of Regents staff explained that oversight would remain in place and that ABLE accounts would not be charged fees. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered HB 352 on behavioral health services for public school students. Rep. Mack and advocates from the Arc and ABA providers said the bill would ensure medically necessary services can be delivered in classrooms or other school settings, while the Louisiana Federation of Teachers asked for clearer pre-conference expectations to avoid classroom disruption. After testimony from parents, providers, and school stakeholders, the bill was reported with amendments. Finally, the committee approved HB 201 creating a state seal of fine arts for high school graduates, and HB 738 revising student disciplinary proceedings at colleges and universities to ensure evidence and fairness in disciplinary actions. Both bills were reported favorably. The committee also began hearing HCR 14, which expresses support for federal efforts to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, but the transcript cuts off before any final action on the resolution is shown.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Transportation Jan 26th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • A peak of 809 in 2023, and the total went down to 737 in 2024.
  • I burst several vertebrae in my spine. In my back, I broke both bones in my left forearm.
  • we live in.
  • In 2022, at the age of 14, I was involved in an e-bike crash.
  • In 2022, at the age of 14, I was involved in an e-bike crash.
Summary: The Senate Transportation Committee held a work session on impaired driving, beginning with data from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and a discussion of a proposed reduction in the legal per se blood alcohol concentration limit from 0.08 to 0.05. Mark McKekney presented crash and fatality data showing that about half of traffic fatalities involve an impaired driver, that alcohol remains the most common substance involved, and that impairment is strongly associated with speeding and higher crash risk. He also summarized a Washington/AAA survey finding support for lowering the limit rose from 54% to 71% after respondents received information about safety impacts, and he said the most persuasive arguments were that the change would save lives and reduce impaired driving. Committee members asked about how much alcohol can produce a 0.05 BAC, enforcement practices, blood testing in fatal crashes, and whether other states or countries use lower limits. The committee then heard emotional testimony from Joshua Jackman, who described severe injuries and long-term consequences from being struck by a drunk driver in 2007, and said the proposed law could help prevent similar tragedies by encouraging people to plan ahead. A panel followed with testimony from AAA Washington, the Washington State Patrol, and the Department of Transportation. AAA supported a 0.05 standard and cited research and international experience showing fewer fatalities and serious injuries without major effects on arrests or the hospitality industry. The State Patrol said the bill is intended to prevent crashes rather than increase arrests and would not change stop standards or DUI investigative practices. WSDOT described the safety, work-zone, congestion, equipment-damage, and liability costs caused by impaired driving, including recent crashes involving snowplows and road crews. No vote was taken on the impaired-driving discussion. The committee then held a public hearing on Senate Bill 5234, which would raise snowmobile registration fees from $50 to $75 and vintage snowmobile fees from $12 to $18, with additional revenue going to the snowmobile account for grooming, plowing, sanitation, and other State Parks snowmobile programs. State Parks said the program has seen declining registrations and reduced services, while supporters from the snowmobile community said the increase is needed to stabilize the program and keep trails open. Some testimony supported the need for more revenue but opposed the fee increase as the wrong solution, arguing the program needs broader reform and that many snowmobiles remain unregistered. The hearing record noted 3 people signed in pro and 105 con. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 6110, which would clarify the definition of e-bikes, exclude vehicles capable of exceeding 20 mph solely on motor power or easily modified to do so, and direct the Department of Licensing to convene a work group to develop recommendations for regulating electric motorcycles. Committee discussion focused on the distinction between legal e-bikes and faster e-motos, with questions about wattage, speed, youth use, and whether the bill should define e-motorcycles more directly. Students, local officials, city representatives, trail advocates, and bicycle groups testified in support, describing safety concerns, injuries, and confusion in enforcement, while also emphasizing that true e-bikes improve mobility and access. Several local government and advocacy witnesses asked for a clearer statutory definition of e-motorcycles and a civil enforcement path for juveniles. No final action was taken on the bills during the hearing.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Education Apr 14th, 2026

Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • in cost.
  • Louisiana is fair, transparent, accountable, in compliance, and consistent with our academic goals,
  • Louisiana is fair, transparent, accountable, in compliance, and consistent with our academic goals,
  • It's not working in a fair, consistent manner.
  • "And my last question is, in your testimony, I heard you say the following: They're not fair, they're
Bills: HR17 , HB385 , HB406 , HB787 , HB1021 , HB1058 , HB1059
Committee: House Education
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Session - 2026-05-20 - 10:00AM

Vermont House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • c> clean</c> public buy-in, and investment in clean public buy-in, and investment in clean waters.<00
  • </c> Convention in 1992. Convention in 1992.
  • </c> in political science and a minor in in political science and a minor in Chinese.
  • Kevin has supported my work this session in several meaningful ways, from pushing the needle on fair
  • in fans, compressors in typically found in fans, compressors in refrigerators<00:37:10.160><c> and</
Keywords: 926, house, all