Transcript Highlights:

• Thank you, Senator Pearl, and I will open this hearing. Well, good morning, Madam Chair.
• I'm going to open the hearing on Okay.
• I'm going to open the hearing on SB<00:33:56.840><c> 535</c> SB 535 SB 535 defining<00:33:58.920><c>
• </c> you're open to that. you're open to that.
• And I just wanted to make sure, because that really opens up the market for a lot more people.

Committee: House Environment and Agriculture

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > machine</c><01:13:34.400><c> and</c> Sheel, please open the machine and Sheel, please open the machine
• Sheel, please open the machine and Mr.
• She will please open the machine. Mr. She will please open the machine.
• Sheil, please open the Bill 115. Mr.
• </c><05:55:34.638><c> and</c> important avenue that remain open and important avenue that remain open

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yes, we're open to that. Okay. I appreciate the answer.
• Yes, we're open to that. Okay. I appreciate the answer.
• Sorry, how many cells do we have in current prisons that are open?
• So the scope of this is going to be eye-opening for some folks.
• Department of Justice to open a civil rights case in 2024.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) budget, with a focus on prison population trends, spending, facility closures, and efforts to find savings. The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) presented data showing the prison and parole populations have fallen sharply over the past 20 years while CDCR spending has remained high, driven largely by security, health care, litigation-related requirements, and aging infrastructure. The LAO also said the state is likely to have several thousand empty beds by 2030 and recommended closing another prison, identifying the Correctional Training Facility in Soledad as the strongest candidate, while also urging more transparency around facility deactivations and the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) efficiency contract. CDCR Secretary Jeff McCumber said the department faces structural budget pressures from retirement payouts, workers’ compensation, overtime, medical transport, aging facilities, and violence in prisons, but emphasized declining recidivism, expanding reentry beds, and the need for more single-celling and rehabilitation. Department of Finance representative Anthony Franzoa said the administration is not proposing another prison closure at this time, opposed new reporting requirements on deactivations, and said the BCG contract is intended to produce long-term savings even if near-term estimates are being revised downward. Amber Rose Howard of California United for Responsible Budget argued the state should close more prisons, redirect funds to community services, and stop spending on excess prison capacity. Members questioned why CDCR still relies on vacancy savings, why rehabilitation is only a small share of the budget, and whether the department should be more transparent about capacity reductions and legal liabilities. Several members criticized the $20 million BCG contract and the lack of competitive bidding, while others pressed CDCR on staffing levels, single-celling, suicide prevention, and health care costs for older incarcerated people. The hearing did not take a formal vote, but it ended with clear committee concern about CDCR’s budget transparency, the pace of prison closures, and the need to align spending more closely with the declining prison population and the department’s stated rehabilitation mission.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, I rise to celebrate their opening day and commemorate the opening of their brand-new field.
• Open global war on terrorism continues.
• They have made an open border invasion.
• </c> price of the left's open border agenda. price of the left's open border agenda.
• </c> benefits just to keep our borders open? benefits just to keep our borders open?

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The primary benefit of this legislation is that it would move our town meeting later in the year, allowing

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government

Keywords: 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That is always our primary goal. These fees are.

Committee: Senate Revenue & Fiscal Affairs

Keywords: 974, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In the 1700s, black bears were common throughout the states and were a primary food source for Native

Committee: House Conservation and Natural Resources

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This would be used for $500,000 for state costs for the 2026 primary and general election.

Committee: Joint Joint Legislative Budget Committee

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1633, income tax attraction, primary residence. Finance.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sweeping omnibus bill that caused 18,000 vote by male voters ballots to be thrown out in the 2022 primary

Transcript Highlights:

• If we are the primary stakeholders of the education policy decisions being made by lawmakers, it only

Summary: Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) held an advocacy day at the Texas Capitol with more than 300 young Texans and allies to press lawmakers on education policy. Speakers framed the event around student visibility in policymaking and criticized recent Texas actions on school vouchers, book bans, and legislation affecting LGBTQ students and classroom content. Representative Donna Howard briefly attended and voiced support for students having a seat at the table, citing a prior effort to add a student to a school board as an example of the kind of participation SEAT is seeking. Several student speakers described how voucher expansion threatens public schools and argued that public education is being underfunded and undermined rather than failing on its own. Others focused on LGBTQ inclusion, saying bills such as SB 12 and SB 13 would erase queer students’ experiences and make schools less safe and welcoming. One speaker also condemned book bans and censorship, arguing that students need access to diverse books and honest, inclusive education to think critically and feel represented. SEAT executive director Cameron Samuels closed by describing the group’s earlier organizing against book bans and internet restrictions and by connecting that work to broader demands for public schools, student rights, and safety. The event did not include any legislative vote or formal committee action; it was an advocacy press conference aimed at influencing lawmakers during the session.

Transcript Highlights:

• No, the clerk will ring the bell and open the board. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
• young man who is a council member of the city of Overland and who is also running unopposed in the primary
• Clerk, please ring the bell and open the board. Thank you. Thank you. Has everyone voted? Mr.
• Clerk, please ring the bell and open the board. And so that's And so that's Has everyone voted?
• There are also things that he's requiring to be disclosed, also considered open, that are considered

Summary: The House began with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the prior day’s journal by a 123-1 roll call vote. Members then spent time introducing guests, including physicians, sheriffs, students, interns, and school groups from several districts. The chamber also heard a personal privilege statement recognizing a member’s son’s birthday. On third reading, House Bill 1758, dealing with permanent daylight saving time in Missouri, drew debate over whether ending clock changes would improve convenience or create safety and health problems by leaving more commutes in darkness. Supporters argued it would align with public preference and reduce disruption, while opponents warned of circadian and safety concerns. The bill passed 107-31 with two present. The House then moved to perfection of House Bill 3329, which repeals expired or unused tax credits, and House Bill 3405, which reclassifies SALT/pass-through entity items as deductions rather than tax credits for reporting purposes; both were described as cleanup and efficiency measures and were perfected without opposition. The chamber then took up House Bill 2426, a broad parental rights bill covering medical, educational, privacy, and related decision-making for children, and a major amendment focused on individualized education plans (IEPs). Supporters said the bill and amendment strengthen parental involvement and require stricter judicial review, while opponents raised concerns about overbreadth, school district administration burdens, transparency requirements, and possible conflicts with existing law on truancy, medical care, and records. House Amendment 1 was adopted 98-25 with six present, and debate continued on the underlying bill with no final vote shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And I'm open to any questions. Nick and a good friend of mine, Ryan.
• And I'm open to any questions. Are there any questions for the prime sponsor?
• So I'm open to suggestion because, Chair Lewis, I share the affordability concern.
• I'm open for any questions. ...in a way between these two values.
• I'm open for any questions. Are there any questions for the prime sponsor? I don't see any.

Summary: The committee first held an executive session on several transportation measures heard earlier in the session, including bills on rounding cash transactions to eliminate pennies, vehicle title transfers to insurers, a memorial bridge naming, BAT lane access for private employer transportation services, oil tanker escort requirements, Traffic Safety Commission authority, fifth-wheel trailer length, electric vehicle sales and funding, and vehicle loads on public highways. Most of the measures were advanced with due pass recommendations to the Rules Committee, and the committee adopted amendments on the penny-rounding bill, the EV funding bill, and the vehicle-loads bill. Members noted some opposition or reservations on a few items, including the penny-rounding proposal and the vehicle-loads amendment, but the motions carried. The committee then returned to public hearing on several bills. Substitute House Bill 2323 would create a blue envelope program for neurodiverse drivers to help communicate with law enforcement during traffic stops; the Department of Licensing and State Patrol fiscal notes were described, and the bill drew strong support in signed-in testimony. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2588 would expand county ferry district authority to include vehicle ferries and require voter approval for new taxes after the effective date; testimony was mixed, with Whatcom County officials and ferry users supporting the bill as a funding tool, while one opponent criticized the tax and timing provisions. The committee also heard public testimony on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2172, which would change the route jurisdiction transfer and abandonment process for state highways by requiring agreements or legislative review for longer abandonments or bridge transfers; cities, counties, the Transportation Commission, and the TIB supported the bill as a more transparent process. Additional public hearings covered Substitute House Bill 2203, creating reckless interference with emergency operations for drivers who bypass emergency road closures; a defense-lawyer witness opposed the mandatory license suspension, while the sponsor described the bill as a response to flood and fire rescues. Substitute House Bill 2410 would create a Commercial Truck Safety and Education Council and raise the commercial vehicle safety enforcement fee from $16 to $32 per vehicle; the trucking industry and business groups supported it as a safety and training investment. The committee also heard a staff briefing and sponsor testimony on Second Substitute House Bill 1923, the Mosquito Fleet Act, which would expand passenger-only ferry district options and was presented as a local tool to improve ferry access and relieve Washington State Ferries congestion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Ajaenae, does this open up the state to pay for the cost of custody in out-of-state settings for the
• I remain open to productive dialogue and meaningful compromise.
• I remain open to productive dialogue and meaningful compromise.
• We had two supports, so we're still open for neutral and opposed. Hi, sorry.
• So we're open to looking at that if that's a technical error.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2307, as amended, which would require the Department of Health Services to contract with out-of-state secure mental health facilities when Arizona beds are unavailable for certain involuntary commitment cases involving defendants found dangerous and incompetent. The sponsor and supporters framed it as an emergency stopgap to prevent individuals who are deemed non-restorable from being released because Arizona lacks secure behavioral health beds, while opponents argued it would raise due process, disability rights, family access, and cost concerns, and questioned whether the state could even implement such interstate placements. After debate, the committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and advanced HB 2307 on a 6-5 due pass vote. The committee then heard House Bill 2083, which updates diabetes-related coverage language in health plans to include newer devices and supplies such as continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and smart insulin pens. Supporters said the bill modernizes outdated statutes and improves access and outcomes for people with diabetes, while an insurer representative offered soft opposition, warning that writing these items into statute could create a state mandate and potential cost exposure, especially if the language is read to include GLP-1 medications. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and moved HB 2083 forward on an 11-1 due pass vote. Next, House Bill 2673 was heard, addressing mental health screening and treatment for incarcerated people. The sponsor said the bill was being reworked into a study committee concept after stakeholder feedback, but the underlying proposal would require prompt evaluation of prisoners showing mental disorder symptoms and faster referral for treatment. A family member testified about her son’s severe deterioration in jail and death, while an attorney opposed the bill as overbroad and legally problematic. Despite the sponsor’s indication that the bill would become a study committee, the committee voted 12-0 to give HB 2673 a due pass recommendation. The committee also advanced House Bill 2923, which revises timelines, procedures, and notice requirements for judicial review of court-ordered mental health treatment; supporters said it clarifies outdated language and improves communication with families, while opponents argued it shifts burdens onto patients and could prolong confinement. HB 2923 also received a 12-0 due pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's where the shooting range park is, that's managed by Albuquerque Open Space.
• That's what my eyes have been opened to. Thank you. I think that's really important.
• My primary goal with our partnerships is to enhance community engagement and support.
• It starts with me, and we try and be as open as just communicating.
• We slept with the doors open, in and out. ...to the commercial district.

Committee: House Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• But there's a lot of stuff in here that seems to be still open about the advisory boards and so on, so
• Roofers are held to no accountability, and the door is wide open for storm chasers and bad actors who
• She's very much open-minded and works very hard. Yes, Representative Meza. Thank you.
• This clause will open the floodgates for thousands of frivolous lawsuits to be held against app stores
• I'm open for questions. Any questions? Can I ask one or a couple? Yes. Dale, great to see you.

Bills: HB2963 , HB3005 , HB3287 , HB3288 , HB3289 , HB3290 , HB3344 , HB3712 , HB3862 , HB3874 , HB4196 , HB4308 , HB4901 , HB4984

Committee: House Trade, Workforce & Economic Development

Keywords: digital equipment, repair rights, manufacturers, maintenance, consumer rights, construction contracts, payment regulations, public works, dispute resolution, audit procedures, construction, trust funds, mechanic's lien, contractor, subcontractor, residential properties, disputes, payment obligations, accountability, payment disputes

Transcript Highlights:

• we could charge some sort of a registration fee, which would bring all these players out into the open
• we could charge some sort of a registration fee, which would bring all these players out into the open
• are and who they are and the numbers of them. ...which would bring all these players out into the open
• 41:48.480><c> the</c> interest in that child's life and the interest in that child's life and the primary
• Like $10 a month, she could no longer take the capsule, so I had to attempt to cut it open to mix it

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: Division 3 Finance held a work session to move through five bills before noon, noting one member’s early departure and adjusting the order of bills accordingly. The first item, HB 54, would allow some alternative treatment centers in the medical cannabis system to operate for profit. Members discussed a fiscal note showing a one-time $133,000 cost, which was described as a Division 1 budget item to be handled through HB 2 rather than directly in Division 3. After discussion about keeping Division 1 informed and the distinction between retaining a bill versus funding it, the committee voted unanimously to retain HB 54 for further finance work and conversion into HB 2. The committee then took up HB 547, concerning reimbursement to counties for enhanced FMAP funds during the COVID period. The chair summarized the issue as federal enhanced Medicaid matching funds that were received by the state before authority existed to pass them through to counties, creating a disputed amount owed to counties. County representatives said the money should have gone to counties and clarified the relevant time period, while the department did not take a position. The chair proposed retaining the bill and moving it into HB 2, with discussion of a possible four-year repayment structure in equal annual installments. The committee agreed to retain the bill for continued work in the budget process. During the HB 547 discussion, members also clarified the fiscal and accounting details, including that the fiscal note had not been widely available and that some figures in the note should be treated as county revenue rather than county expenditure. Testimony explained that the enhanced FMAP increased from 50 percent to 56.2 percent, and that the state’s and counties’ shares of claims were affected by the timing of the federal change and the later state authorization. The committee emphasized that the issue was complex and budget-dependent, and that retaining the bill would allow further negotiation and incorporation into HB 2 rather than immediate final action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you have an opening statement that you'd like to make?
• All right, Mayor, do you have an opening statement? Yes.
• Mayor, do you have an open a statement? Yes.
• Do you have an opening statement?” “Yes.
• Do you have an opening statement, Mayor? Yes.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Summary: The committee approved the prior meeting minutes and then received updates on delinquent water and sewer reports, including seven new reinstatements and a reduction to four remaining delinquent filers. Staff also reported on municipal accounting code noncompliance, removing Denning and Gum Springs from the 60-day clock after improved records were verified, and presenting repeat findings for Fargo, Lead Hill, Alma, Jericho, and Haynes. Members discussed repeated audit problems, the length of time some issues had persisted, and whether towns should be given additional time or face stronger action; motions were made and adopted to place some entities on a 60-day clock or defer action to later meetings. For Fargo and Alma, staff described extensive repeat accounting deficiencies, including missing budgets, bank reconciliations, financial statements, receipts, journals, and supporting documentation. Fargo’s mayor said the town had been understaffed and was beginning to improve its office systems; the committee voted to defer the matter for 60 days and file the report. Alma’s officials said they were trying to correct water audit and accounting issues, and the committee likewise deferred the matter to the August meeting while warning that water-audit delays could jeopardize turnback funds. The committee then reviewed misuse-of-street-funds findings for Jericho and Haynes. Jericho’s police chief and officials explained that traffic fines, drug-related arrests, and other citations had pushed the town over the statutory threshold, while staff clarified that the speed-trap calculation excludes certain add-on fines and is referred to the prosecuting attorney for any action. Haynes officials said repayment problems stemmed from lost revenue and staffing changes, including the loss of the police department, but staff reported the town remained behind on its repayment plan and also owed the IRS. The committee voted to defer the Haynes matter to September and to defer Jericho as well, with members emphasizing the need for consistency and possible broader legislative review of small-town viability. A special report on the Pulaski County Regional Solid Waste Management District drew substantial discussion. Staff cited findings involving board approval of payroll and contracts, credit card documentation, car allowances and personal vehicle use, competitive bidding, and unusually high advertising spending, as well as the sale of trailers and other equipment at low prices. The district director said the board had delegated authority for many expenditures, that personal use was reported for tax purposes, and that advertising was necessary to educate the public about recycling. Members questioned the procurement and disposal decisions and the size of the advertising budget; after discussion, the committee deferred the report to September and asked the director to return. The meeting also included brief deferred reports on Biggers, Gilmore, and Holly Grove, which were filed after local officials described ongoing efforts to resolve long-standing audit and tax issues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you have an opening statement that you'd like to make?
• Do you have an opening statement?" "Yes. Thank you."
• Do you have an opening statement, ma'am? I don't. Does any member have a question?
• Do you have an opening statement? Yes.
• Do you have an open statement, mayor? Yes.

Committee: All LEGISLATIVE JOINT AUDITING-COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No, I just need to open the paper. My apology.
• No, I just need to open the paper. My apology.
• Could this not open the door again for racial profiling? Mr.
• Open bank accounts and receive loans. This is not a policy. This is not a policy.
• This will make the state open to litigation. Enrollment.

Bills: SB1232 , SB1421 , SB1505 , SB1511 , SB1520 , SB1803

Committee: Senate Military Affairs and Border Security

Keywords: outdoor advertising, military compatibility, zoning, electronic signage, permitting, undocumented immigrants, financial services, identification requirements, loans, foreign remittances, transitional housing, military, veterans, grant program, supportive services, SB1511, commercial driver license, CDL, nondomiciled CDL, nondomiciled commercial driver license