Video & Transcript : 'accountability courts' :
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CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Native American Affairs May 6th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And when there is no urgency, there's no accountability.
- And when there is no urgency, there's no accountability.
- Second, the data and accountability.
- State Court Forum.
- State Court Forum.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session Day 18 (2-2-26)
Kentucky Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The<00:40:00.640><c> court</c><00:40:00.880><c> wrote,</c> The court wrote, The court wrote, "In<00:40
- And I'll leave that to the courts.
- The courts have make a the courts.
- </c> What we need is not less accountability. What we need is not less accountability.
- We need more accountability accountability accountability and<00:50:48.240><c> we</c><00:50:48.400><c
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Human Services Committee Jun 30th, 2026
Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- This bill is about dignity, safety, and accountability.
- This is the Accountability Before Custody Act, or the ABC Act.
- This is accountability, not punishment.
- I don't think now that I'm working in the Court of Appeal that a court of appeal would overrule such
- It also built crucial system accountability.
Committee:
House Human Services
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- They're good for accountability and letting people know how their elected officials vote.
- Lastly, the bill establishes protections for those in court.
- We had a one-two punch with a Scrimetti decision at the Supreme Court.
- That's before the Supreme Court.
- The court officer will, actually, I want to do this first. I'm sorry.
Summary:
The Senate first adopted three congratulatory resolutions recognizing the retirements of Dolores Hayes, Lisa Audet, and Kate Fitzpatrick. It then handled several procedural matters, including suspending Joint Rule 12 to refer a sick leave bank bill for a Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office employee to the Committee on Public Service and referring House petitions to their respective committees. The chamber also adopted a conference report on the joint rules for the 2025-2026 session after remarks from Senators Creem, Tarr, Lovely, and Fattman emphasizing transparency, public access, recorded votes, longer notice for hearings and conference reports, remote participation, and periodic review of the rules. The report was accepted by a 40-0 roll call.
The Senate then took up the bill strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth, Senate No. 2538, commonly described as Shield Act 2.0. Senator Friedman and others argued the bill was needed to protect reproductive and gender-affirming care from out-of-state and federal interference, to limit disclosure of sensitive information, to create a state-level EMTALA-style protection for emergency care and active labor, and to strengthen privacy and licensing protections for providers and institutions. Senators Cyr, Lovely, and Fattman also spoke in support, framing the bill as a response to recent federal and state threats and as an extension of Massachusetts’ prior shield-law work.
The chamber considered numerous amendments. Several were rejected, including amendments by Senators Finegold and Keenan and multiple Tarr amendments on topics such as medical records, consistency with existing law, and public health data collection. Some amendments were adopted, including a Montigny amendment on health-connected data disclosure, a Brownsberger amendment further protecting privacy for reproductive and gender-affirming care, a Rauch amendment clarifying protections for patients in active labor, a Tarr amendment removing an exemption for data from personal tracking devices, and a Rodrigues corrective amendment. After the amendments, the Ways and Means substitute was adopted, the bill was ordered to a third reading, and it then passed to be engrossed by a 37-3 roll call.
At the end of the session, the Senate adopted a memorial adjournment in honor of former Senate Majority Leader Louis P. Bertinazi. The Governor also filed a message submitting a bill to build resilience for Massachusetts communities, authorizing future capital spending for energy and environmental affairs, which was referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 1 p.m. and adjourned.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions Mar 31st, 2026
Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions
Transcript Highlights:
- Jones, which was argued at the Supreme Court in 2000.
- The court also said that another approach California could have taken.
- When I make a decision, who am I accountable to?
- Am I accountable to the people who like what I did, and I'm not accountable to the people who don't like
- Am I accountable?
Bills:
H5001
Summary:
The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-12, H.503, an act to implement all-party state primaries. Committee leaders explained the Article 48 process and said the hearing was part of the Legislature’s review before any measure could advance toward the 2026 ballot. The hearing format included subject-matter experts, proponents, opponents, and public testimony, though this excerpt mainly covers the expert and proponent panels.
The first expert, Northeastern University political scientist Costas Panagopoulos, described top-two primaries used in states such as California, Washington, Alaska, Louisiana, and Nebraska, and said the research shows only modest or mixed effects. He argued that top-two systems do not reliably reduce polarization, can weaken party gatekeeping, may increase campaign spending and incumbent advantages, and can lead to undervoting when voters do not see a preferred candidate on the ballot. In response to questions, he said turnout effects are mixed and not substantially higher overall. Katie King of the National Conference of State Legislatures then outlined different primary systems, including closed, open, top-two/top-four, nonpartisan, all-comers, and blanket primaries, and reviewed Supreme Court cases holding blanket primaries unconstitutional while upholding Washington’s top-two system. She also noted that changing primary systems would require significant voter education and administrative preparation.
The proponent panel, led by Danielle Allen of the Coalition for Healthy Democracy, argued that Massachusetts has too many uncontested elections, low primary participation, and too little accountability, and that all-party primaries would give every voter a meaningful choice in a higher-turnout general election. Supporters said the proposal is tailored to Massachusetts, would keep party endorsements visible on the ballot, and could broaden competition, improve representation, and help independent and minor-party candidates. Jim Henderson, coalition counsel, said the bill is narrowly focused on state-level primaries and was drafted to fit Article 48 requirements. Other proponents, including Kevin Johnson, Kate Kavanaugh, and Spencer Reynolds, echoed that the current system overrepresents a small partisan electorate and that the reform would shift power to voters. Committee members pressed the proponents on turnout evidence, party endorsements, ballot access, the role of fusion-style cross-endorsements, the effect on polarization, and whether the change would actually improve representation or simply move party influence to an earlier stage. No votes or final committee action were taken in the excerpt.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- "We utilize those dollars to account for the 750 additional waivers.
- Conservation Incentive Program Account. I see no questions.
- That set updates the references in the preamble to new accounting standards. Mr.
- Appropriates funds for expenses to the Louisiana Judiciary, including the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals
- , District Courts, Juvenile and Family Courts, and other courts.
Committee:
House Appropriations
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Trade & Economic Development Jan 29th, 2026 at 08:00 am
Business, Trade & Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- Supreme Court denied an emergency application to reinstate a preliminary...
- Old Navy case in the Washington Supreme Court. I’m Blythe Chandler.
- Old Navy case in the Washington Supreme Court.
- When a single court decision like Brown v.
- and for the age to get an account to be over 17.
Keywords:
commercial email, spam regulations, online marketing, privacy, consumer protection, SB 6111, Washington Protecting Children Online Act, online child safety, minor privacy, age verification, parental consent, social media regulation, digital platforms, user-generated content, content moderation, online harms, youth protection, data privacy, geolocation, targeted advertising
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Appropriations Jan 26th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- The bill also creates a non-appropriated Spark Act grant program account.
- We should support default safeguards inside apps, things like teen accounts.
- Courts have repeatedly struck down laws restricting minors' access to protected speech.
- The Supreme Court in Moody v.
- , and they're private by default for accounts under 16.
Summary:
The House Appropriations Committee held public hearings on several bills related to artificial intelligence, student employee bargaining, and online safety. For HB 1170, staff explained that the bill would require certain large generative AI providers to offer provenance detection tools and include latent or optional manifest disclosures in AI-generated audio, image, and video content, with enforcement by the Attorney General under the Consumer Protection Act. Committee discussion focused on whether the bill would apply to AI-generated text code, and staff clarified that it would not. Testimony from the Washington Technology Industry Association opposed the bill as written, citing enforcement ambiguity, definition changes, and interoperability concerns, while noting support for continued work on the issue.
For HB 1570, staff described the underlying bill as extending collective bargaining rights under the Public Employees Collective Bargaining Act to student employees at several state higher education institutions, with a striking amendment narrowing the bill to non-academic student employees at Western Washington University and listing covered job classifications. Staff estimated the original bill’s fiscal impact at about $1.5 million per biennium, reduced to roughly $200,000 per biennium under the striking amendment. Testimony from labor and student representatives supported the narrowed bill, emphasizing student worker safety, organizing support, and the need to move forward after prior union votes.
The committee also heard substitute HB 1833, which would create the Spark Act grant program in the Department of Commerce to support innovative uses of AI, with grants requiring a state benefit and shared technology, and with Commerce consulting the Attorney General’s AI Task Force. Staff estimated administrative costs of about $160,000 per year plus grant funding that could bring total annual program costs to roughly $660,000 to $1.6 million. Representative Keaton said an amendment would update dates and incorporate changes. Testimony was generally supportive from industry and retail representatives, who framed the bill as a pro-innovation public-private partnership.
Finally, the committee heard a proposed third substitute for HB 1834, which would prohibit addictive feeds for minor users and restrict push notifications during evening and school hours unless parents consent, while allowing all users to limit feeds and privacy settings. Supporters, including the Attorney General’s Office, Children’s Alliance, and a parent who lost a child to social media harms, argued the bill would protect children and reduce behavioral health costs. Opponents from technology, civil liberties, and industry groups raised constitutional, privacy, and vagueness concerns, warning that age determination could function like age verification and that the bill could restrict access to beneficial content. No votes or executive action were taken; the committee concluded public hearings and announced amendment deadlines for upcoming executive sessions.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Court, New Hampshire. Um, what brings us Court, New Hampshire.
- </c> court cases. court cases. >> Right.<00:32:38.640><c> Right.
- </c> courts have said that too. Yeah. courts have said that too. Yeah.
- </c> input-based accountability system. input-based accountability system.
- . accountability. accountability.
Committee:
House Education Funding
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the Freedom of Information Act, focusing on perspectives from public requesters. Apr 8th, 2025 at 09:15 am
Senate Judiciary
Transcript Highlights:
- This statute is a critical tool that Americans use. to keep our government transparent and accountable
- As the Supreme Court has explained, the basic purpose of FOIA is to ensure an informed citizenry, vital
- As you noted, you know, the question about whether DOJ is subject to FOIA is currently in the courts.
- I believe that the courts are not perfectly capable of applying that test faithfully in this instance
- We, the people, needed to make sure that our government was being accountable to us.
Committee:
Senate Senate Judiciary
ND
Transcript Highlights:
- Retail sales account for $28.7 million, and Pick and Click accounts for $4.3 million.
- North Dakota courts use Odyssey.
- court system.
- court systems, other states' court systems. ...other states' court systems, other states, you know,
- It's an open court process.
Committees:
Joint Judiciary , Joint Judiciary Committee
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Administration of Criminal Justice Apr 14th, 2026
Administration of Criminal Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- This is about fairness, accountability, and protecting our communities.
- , rightly on the decisions that those courts and those marshals may make.
- , rightly on the decisions that those courts and those marshals may make.
- Marshal Dupuy has a great working relationship with me, Broadbridge City Court/Ward 4 Court, the Broadbridge
- Are you familiar with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals opinion, Dix v. Mancusco? No.
Committee:
House Administration of Criminal Justice
Summary:
The Committee on Criminal Justice met on April 14, 2026, and first handled several voluntary deferrals, including HB 343, HB 491, HB 523, HB 426, HB 439, HB 378, and later HB 1025. HB 676 by Rep. Spell, which creates the crime of fraudulent patient referrals or “body brokering,” was amended and reported favorably. Testimony from Louisiana Blue, Odyssey House, and others described the practice as exploiting vulnerable addiction and mental health patients for profit, while supporters said the bill targets organized fraud and protects patients, families, and insurers.
The committee also reported HB 394 by Rep. Chenevert, which extends the conditional parole period from nine months to 24 months for offenders who must complete programming before release. Supporters, including the Louisiana Parole Project, said the change gives the parole board more flexibility and does not create new parole eligibility, while the bill was amended to remove some language tied to rehabilitation programming review. HB 622 by Rep. Coates, dealing with confidentiality and handling of criminal history records, was reported favorably after testimony that it is needed to align state law with federal FBI/CJIS requirements and tighten safeguards on background-check information.
HB 396 by Rep. McMakin, concerning admissibility of autopsy photographs, was amended to apply to criminal proceedings generally and then reported favorably. HB 772 by Rep. Martinez, which modernizes notice requirements for arrest warrants by allowing electronic notice and clarifying mailing procedures, was also reported favorably despite concerns from Orleans Parish prosecutors about costs and surety liability. HB 1038 by Rep. Boyer, addressing marshal authority to issue deputy commissions and related liability/insurance issues, drew substantial testimony from marshals, city officials, and local government groups; after amendments requiring insurance coverage and clarifying funding and applicability, it was reported favorably on an 8-2 vote. HB 1025, which would have created an exception allowing reconciliation after a protective-order violation, drew strong opposition from domestic violence advocates and prosecutors and was voluntarily deferred by the author.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Ultimately, the court ordered Idaho Department of Health and Welfare to identify a completely different
- We support accountability, cost survey, and transparency.
- There is no court order that halted implementation in the KW lawsuit.
- The court ordered that the Department of Health and Welfare complete implementation by June of 2022.
- And the governor said, we got to hold them accountable, tighten the belt, and somebody else accountable
Committee:
Senate Health and Welfare
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- That's a 2010 Louisiana Supreme Court case.
- Virginia by the Supreme Court.
- Supreme Court said Mr.
- Supreme Court said, Mr.
- by the circuit court in their jurisdiction or the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Committee:
Senate Judiciary C
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 137, which would strengthen penalties for knowingly making threats against schools, school activities, students, or school employees. The author said the bill responds to repeated false threats that disrupt schools, frighten families, and divert law enforcement, and it adds education and parental acknowledgment requirements. Members discussed possible juvenile consequences such as public service or physical work at schools, and the bill drew support from law enforcement, district attorneys, and Catholic bishops. It was reported favorably without objection.
House Bill 321 followed, addressing Louisiana’s Safe Harbor law by expressly exempting minors from prostitution offenses and treating them as trafficking victims rather than offenders. The author, clergy, trafficking advocates, and a survivor testified that children involved in commercial sex are typically coerced, groomed, or controlled by traffickers, often family members or caregivers, and should receive protection and services instead of arrest. Witnesses described statewide advocacy and crisis-response services created in 2022, and committee members asked about prosecution of perpetrators and the prevalence of trafficking in rural areas. The bill was reported favorably without objection.
The committee then approved House Bill 1246, a response to a fatal drunk-driving crash involving Jada Bright, which would allow law enforcement to keep intoxicated offenders in jail if they are not safe to release. An amendment was adopted to clean up the language, and the bill was reported favorably. House Bill 1104, creating a misdemeanor for possession of motor vehicle key-programming or emulating devices used to steal cars, also passed favorably with support from prosecutors and police. House Bill 552, a cleanup measure replacing references to intoxication with impairment in prior drug-related statutes, was reported favorably as well.
Finally, the committee took up House Bill 310, which would require random reassignment when a defendant waives a jury trial in districts with more than two judges, unless the prosecutor agrees otherwise. Supporters said it would prevent judge shopping and address concerns about unusually high acquittal rates before particular judges, while opponents argued it raises due process concerns and effectively lets prosecutors choose the judge. Despite the opposition, the bill was reported favorably. The last major item was House Bill 1107, dealing with post-conviction death penalty cases involving claims of intellectual disability; the bill would set a 75 IQ threshold and create procedures for Atkins claims. Supporters said it would bring finality to long-pending capital cases and follow U.S. Supreme Court guidance, while opponents argued it would be unconstitutional under Atkins, Moore, and Hall because intellectual disability cannot be reduced to a single number. After extensive testimony and debate over amendments, the committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
03/31/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- It makes accountability real.
- Let that continue on in court.
- Pre-COVID, Phoenix Veterans Court was the largest single-jurisdiction Veterans Treatment Court in the
- During his journey through Veterans Court, he was able to meet with a ton of people on the vet court
- Mojave County did put in these veterans courts, these specialty courts, and they work.
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 2615, as amended by a strike-everything amendment creating an Independent Oversight Committee on the Department of Child Safety with 15 members, authority to review DCS data and practices, request briefings and audits, conduct site visits, and receive confidential complaints, with a $2.2 million FY 2027 appropriation. The sponsor and several parents and foster/adoptive caregivers testified in support, describing child safety failures and arguing for independent accountability, while some members questioned whether the Ombudsman’s office was the right home for the committee and suggested other oversight structures. The amendment was adopted, but the bill itself failed on a 5-5 vote.
House Bill 2620, which would appropriate $300,000 annually from FY 2027 through FY 2031 to the Arizona Department of Veterans Services for grants to emergency shelters serving veterans, received strong support from the sponsor and shelter advocates who said the funding would help move homeless veterans toward stable housing and connect them with VA services. Members emphasized veterans’ service and the need for trauma-informed case management, and the bill passed with a 10-0 do-pass recommendation. House Bill 2321, requiring DCS to place and later remove a credit freeze for children in care to prevent identity theft, also passed unanimously after the sponsor and members discussed the administrative process and protections for foster youth.
The committee then considered House Bill 2601, directing ADOT to seek federal segmentation for the Interstate 11 project between Casa Grande and Wickenburg so environmental review could proceed separately from litigation affecting the southern portion. Supporters framed the bill as a bipartisan way to keep the project moving, while opponents from environmental groups and several members argued it would encourage sprawl, harm desert habitat, and add cost and delay; the bill passed 6-4. House Bill 2992, a pilot program for child sexual abuse and grooming awareness education in six public schools, drew testimony from a trafficking survivor and others who supported prevention efforts, but some members argued the topic should be handled through broader sex education or parent education; it passed 6-4. Later bills also advanced: HB 2156, appropriating $250,000 to the Livestock Compensation Fund, passed 7-3; HB 2165, exempting certain veterans and National Guard members from state park admission fees, passed 6-4 after amendment narrowing the exemption; HB 2960, creating a veterans specialty court grant program and related data-sharing requirements, passed 8-0; HB 2014, directing studies on gasoline blends and fuel feasibility amid EPA waiver concerns, passed 6-2; and HB 2957, preserving non-Real ID licenses and limiting biometric/data retention with a Kavanaugh amendment, passed 5-4-1.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee Mar 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- we're seeing in the United States Supreme Court now.
- And many privacy claims have not been able to move forward in the courts.
- Obviously, people can go to court, but it's much more difficult now.
- And that's what we need to hold the state to account, law enforcement to account, and private government
- to account.
Summary:
The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee held an informational hearing on California privacy in the age of mass surveillance, with members framing the issue as urgent in light of AI, data brokers, workplace monitoring, and government access to commercially collected data. Opening remarks emphasized California’s long-standing privacy tradition and concern for impacts on Latino, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and other vulnerable communities. The committee heard from experts from UC Law San Francisco, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, UC Davis, and a worker-organizer from Amazon, followed by a journalist from 404 Media.
Nicole Ozer reviewed the history of California’s constitutional right to privacy, tracing it to the 1972 ballot measure and arguing that lawmakers should use that right more fully to operationalize stronger protections against surveillance. Deirdre Mulligan described how surveillance capitalism has expanded through physical-world instrumentation, biometrics, connected devices, and AI, and argued that notice-and-consent models are inadequate because people cannot meaningfully understand or control how data is collected, inferred, shared, and used. Ari Waldman focused on disparate harms to marginalized communities, including queer people, survivors of domestic violence, and people seeking reproductive care, and called for stronger regulation, limits on data collection and sharing, and greater accountability for companies and government access to data.
Josh Black testified about Amazon’s workplace surveillance, including handheld devices, time-off-task monitoring, hidden cameras, and driver-facing AI cameras, saying the system pressures workers to skip breaks, rush safety training, and discourages organizing. He said the surveillance is used to increase productivity and suppress union activity. Committee members asked about data retention, injury reporting, cash as a privacy-protective payment option, and whether workers truly consent to surveillance as a condition of employment. Jason Kebler described how police departments adopt commercial surveillance tools through pilot programs and vendor relationships, often without public debate, citing license plate readers and networked camera systems that can spread data across jurisdictions. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational and ended with discussion of the need for clearer definitions, stronger enforcement, and continued legislative action.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Jun 29th, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- more accountability measures put in so that there can be accountability for...
- more accountability measures put in so that there can be accountability for...
- I rise to present SB 174, our courts trailer bill.
- Accountability without creating a new government program.
- By all accounts, Braun was magnetic. As Jennifer, for one. By all accounts, Braun was magnetic.
Summary:
The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a largely procedural session with several unanimous-consent motions, guest introductions, and budget-related trailer bills. Members also adopted resolutions recognizing June as Dairy Month and June 2026 as Electronic Dance Music Month, and later approved H.R. 88 commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Guest introductions highlighted the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Kappa League, Assembly staff member Mukhtar Ali, and Jennifer Levy, who is advocating against drunk driving after the death of her son.
On the floor, the Assembly considered a series of Senate budget trailer bills presented by Assembly Member Gabriel. SB 170 reorganizes housing and homelessness agencies; SB 171 makes labor-related cleanup changes; SB 172 addresses general government, broadband, and NextGen 9-1-1; SB 174 extends remote court hearings and related court provisions; SB 177 advances options related to Medi-Cal and employer contributions; SB 180 extends the California Competes tax credit and conforms tax treatment for certain savings accounts; SB 169 covers transportation and DMV-related provisions; SB 168 creates a zero-emission vehicle incentive program and other clean-energy changes; SB 166 implements natural resources and environmental protection budget items; SB 165 extends the skilled nursing facility financing framework; SB 163 updates developmental services; and SB 135 funds higher education initiatives, including community college enrollment and Cal Grant changes. Most of these measures passed with bipartisan support, though several drew opposition over concerns about bureaucracy, fees, oversight, or policy direction.
The Assembly also passed SB 719, which updates vehicle-related protections for domestic violence survivors, SB 97, an urgency bill making clarifying changes to digital financial asset law, SB 1350, which supports hydrogen and clean energy development, and SB 1344, which aims to reduce meritless lawsuits delaying affordable and supportive housing projects. AB 182, which sets the order for proposition numbers on the November ballot, was approved despite criticism that it manipulates the ballot numbering process. Votes on the measures were recorded, with many passing on strong margins and several transmitted immediately to the Senate or Governor as noted in the proceedings.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:23:02.320><c> and</c><00:23:02.480><c> then</c> court in the superior court and then court in
- </c> true with um education freedom accounts. true with um education freedom accounts.
- The trial court initially in 2019.
- </c> into compliance with a court order? into compliance with a court order?
- </c> expenses were not taken into account. expenses were not taken into account.
Committee:
Senate Education Finance
WV
West Virginia 2026 Regular Session
WV Senate Finance Committee in Session Jan 19th, 2026 at 02:59 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- accounts.
- But those are federal funds. ...put into an investment account, at least interest-bearing accounts, but
- They'll help write your grants and foster you through the process for accounting and accountability.
- We fully expect to be held accountable.
- To be tackled sort of at the Supreme Court or the circuit court level on a myriad of topics.
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee met with a quorum, approved the minutes from the prior meeting, and heard budget presentations from the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the State Auditor. The Secretary of State’s office described its FY27 budget, emphasizing efficiency gains from technology, election security work, and business services. It said it is operating with fewer staff than a decade ago, but rising costs and outdated statutory fees are creating deficits in service of process and other operations. The office asked the committee to consider either increasing fees or allowing it to retain a larger share of business-service revenue, and it also proposed creating an Office of Entrepreneurship to help small businesses navigate state government, grants, permits, and related services.
Committee members questioned the Secretary of State’s office about fee increases, the current 50-50 split of certain revenues with general revenue, and whether the proposed entrepreneurship office would duplicate existing services. The office said it would complement, not replace, Commerce, SBDC, or grant programs, and would report metrics and policy recommendations to the legislature. The Attorney General then requested a one-time $2 million special revenue appropriation to hire additional lawyers and support staff, citing increased litigation, federal and state legal work, and the need to defend new laws. He also discussed embedded DMV lawyers handling DUI revocation hearings and said the arrangement costs the office just over $200,000.
The State Auditor reported that his office is largely self-funded through special revenue and said he wants to reduce reliance on general revenue over time. He highlighted savings from renegotiated leases and an open government contract, discussed the need for more auditors in the Chief Inspector’s Division, and described fraud recovery and P-card operations. A major topic was delinquent land sales: the auditor said the office sold about 17,000 parcels last year and believes online bidding and better marketing could generate substantially more revenue, with the surplus potentially shared among counties, the state, and other programs. Members also asked about securities fee changes, fairness hearings, fire department audits, IT/cybersecurity, and how surplus proceeds from delinquent land sales should be handled. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:19:59.040><c> Think</c> Second, account functionality. Think Second, account functionality.
- are court employees.
- before filing a final account.
- </c><04:34:09.360><c> The</c> court before filing a final account.
- The court before filing a final account.
Committee:
House Judiciary