Video & Transcript : 'legislative ethics' :
Page 461 of 500
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- This legislation clarifies that public schools and universities can permit after-hours facility use by
- The committee substitute just makes sure that is a Legislative Council draft.
- The committee substitute is a Legislative Council draft. Thank you. With that, thank you, Mr.
- There's probably a very similar legislation throughout 50 states, probably, unfortunately.
- There's probably a very similar legislation throughout 50 states, probably, unfortunately.
Committee:
Senate Education K-16
Summary:
The Senate Education K-16 Committee heard several bills before recessing to the floor, with most measures left pending subject to the call of the chair. SB 2986 would allow public schools and universities to permit after-hours facility use by religious groups on the same terms as other nonprofits, and SB 1032 would open the Governor’s University Research Initiative to private and independent universities; both had committee substitutes adopted and were left pending after brief testimony. Supporters of SB 1032 from Rice and Baylor said the change would help Texas recruit top researchers and strengthen the state’s research economy. The committee also heard SB 2058, which would require the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to publish annual data on nursing clinical training sites to improve placement coordination, and SB 2683, which would bar public colleges from giving benefits or recognition to student organizations that receive support from foreign entities of concern; both were left pending after testimony.
A large portion of the meeting focused on SB 2233, which would require public institutions of higher education to adopt policies prohibiting students or employees on nonimmigrant visas from publicly supporting terrorist activity or organizations, with enforcement through investigations, reporting to Homeland Security, and possible Attorney General action and fines. The author said the bill was intended to reinforce existing federal definitions and campus safety, while senators questioned the bill’s scope, the definition of terrorist activity, and the clause tied to U.S. policy or practice. Public witnesses, including civil rights advocates, law students, and others, argued the bill was vague, overbroad, unconstitutional, and likely to chill protected speech and increase surveillance of international students and Black and brown communities; several Jewish witnesses also said the bill misused Jewish safety concerns and could be used for viewpoint discrimination. SB 2233 was left pending after public testimony.
The committee then took up SB 735, which builds on prior Holocaust education legislation by funding optional age-appropriate and bilingual curriculum, museum field trips, teacher preparation partnerships, annual reporting, and regional collaboration with Holocaust museums and education service centers. The author and invited witnesses said the bill responds to survey findings showing uneven Holocaust instruction and a need for better teacher training and accountability. A fifth-grade teacher and the director of the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio testified in support, emphasizing the need for accurate, age-appropriate instruction and professional development. The committee recessed before finishing the agenda, and SB 735 was set to resume after the floor session.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education Apr 15th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- Not just so much siloed with this one piece of legislation, but more of a holistic approach.
- For instance, I have a I have legislation that is completely revamp seeking to completely revamp the
- I think holistically in other another pieces of legislation that are before this process this session
- And so this particular piece of legislation uniquely would only provide this path for co-location to
- So with this legislation, it would allow for charter school governing boards to adopt its own Code of
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Last session, the legislation for this had 30 senators vote for it. Most senators vote against it.
- No legislators voted against it, how come it didn't make it out of the legislature?
- Thank you to Chairman Birdwell for carrying this important piece of legislation.
- And for this important piece of legislation, I'd be happy to answer any questions.
- The next piece of legislation will be Senate Bill 769. by Senator Menendez.
Bills:
SB530 , SB757 , SB769 , SB1085 , SB1241 , SB1242 , SB1409 , SB1878 , SB2138 , SB2314 , SB2231 , SB2361 , SB2431 , SJR59
Committee:
Senate Education
Keywords:
accreditation, postsecondary education, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, baccalaureate degrees, junior colleges, program delivery, faculty recruitment, higher education, performance standards, student loan debt, degree programs, funding, students with disabilities, accessibility, enrollment, report, SB 1085, Sul Ross State University, Rio Grande College, Del Rio
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Environment Committee Meeting - 2025-03-27
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- To thank Commissioner Frank-Polash as well as others from our legislative team.
- This proposal was intended to align with the legislative intent that was expressed in the conference
- We believe that this legislation represents a win-win.
- Do a public auction without specific legislative direction.
- process. to engage in the legislative process or the capacity to navigate the finances involved with
Keywords:
HF1587, Cass County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, condemnation, eminent domain, state land, surplus land, public waters, tribal land transfer, federally recognized Indian Tribe, tribal ownership, land conveyance, no consideration, land appropriation, natural resources, U.S. Highway 2, Section 27 Township 145 North Range 28 West, land return, Tribal sovereignty
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- And have you ever reached out to any of the Broward legislators, sorry, as a follow-up?
- But I have reached out to one legislator, Randy Fine, and what I requested him to do— You want me to
- As a retired naval officer who spent most of my career at sea, support of this legislation.
- We support this legislation.
- We support this legislation.
Committee:
Senate Criminal Justice
Summary:
The committee first considered the appointment of Michelle Whitworth to the Florida Commission on Offender Review. Whitworth described her 30 years of criminal justice experience, and the committee voted to recommend her confirmation favorably. The committee then took up SB 1692 on material harmful to minors, adopting a delete-all amendment that shifted the focus to K-12 instructional materials and objections by parents or residents. Supporters argued it would create clearer standards and protect children from pornographic content, while opponents warned it would worsen book bans and remove consideration of literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. After extensive debate and public testimony, the bill as amended was reported favorably.
The committee also reported favorably on several criminal justice and public safety bills. SB 1422 increased penalties for certain drone-related offenses near critical infrastructure and for weaponized drones; SB 1360 clarified xylazine’s veterinary use while creating stronger trafficking penalties; and SB 1732 increased penalties for animal cruelty involving minors and for contributing to a minor’s delinquency. SB 776 added an aggravating factor for the assassination or attempted assassination of a head of state, and SB 984 added aggravating factors for capital felonies committed where people are gathered for religious, school, or government activities. SB 1640 made domestic violence lethality assessment forms confidential, and SB 1268 updated FDLE operations and increased reimbursement for retired police dogs. All of these bills were reported favorably after brief debate and mostly supportive testimony.
Later, the committee approved SB 1084 on sexual cyber harassment, with a strike-all amendment addressing digitally forged intimate images and extending prosecution time limits. SB 1654 updated sexual offender and predator registration rules, including definitions of residence and online reporting for in-state travel, though one witness raised concerns about vague language and employer privacy. SB 1774 created a rebuttable presumption in certain second-degree murder cases when the victim had a controlled substance in their system, drawing criticism that it could devalue victims who used drugs. Finally, SB 1838 strengthened protections for court officials against tampering, harassment, and retaliation, with an amendment adding magistrates, hearing officers, and related staff; defense attorneys warned the tampering language could inadvertently reach zealous advocacy. Each of these measures was ultimately reported favorably, and the meeting ended with adjournment.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: New Data Supporting Minnesota’s Equal Rights Amendment - 02/18/25
Transcript Highlights:
- that is passed here in the legislation that is passed here in the state<00:05:07.440><c> we</c><00:05
- </c><00:09:33.079><c> as</c><00:09:33.240><c> I</c> I intend to move this legislation as I I intend to
- move this legislation as I would<00:09:33.680><c> any</c><00:09:33.920><c> other</c><00:09:34.160><c
- > piece</c><00:09:34.360><c> of</c><00:09:34.920><c> legislation</c><00:09:35.920><c> I</c> would any
- other piece of legislation I would any other piece of legislation I believe<00:09:36.480><c> that</c
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Feb 12th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- And that's kind of played in the legislative budget recommendation this year, too.
- So I will get into our three legislative asks...
- So I will get into our three legislative asks, and then the fourth one is a to-be-determined legislative
- So I am presenting the clerk's 25-26 budget legislative budget requests.
- However, I believe that these facilities are still constituents under their legislators.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard an update from Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon on staffing, overtime, capital needs, and inmate population growth. Dixon said the prison population has risen by about 8,000 since January 2021 while staffing has not kept pace, forcing the agency to open 53 housing units without funded positions and rely heavily on overtime and National Guard support. He cited a $189 million deficit tied to salaries and overtime, noted that most staff have less than three years of experience, and argued the solution is to fully fund posts for operational housing units. He also reviewed the department’s fixed capital outlay projects, including repairs, new housing construction, and medical modular units intended to reduce outside hospital transports, and gave an update on the VINE victim notification system and its expansion.
The committee then heard from Florida clerks of court representatives Jason Welty and Miami-Dade Clerk Juan Fernandez-Barquin, who described clerks’ court-related and county duties and said clerk budgets have not kept pace with the broader justice system. They requested reimbursements for injunctions for protection ($3.3 million), Baker Act/Marchman Act/sexually violent predator cases ($2.5 million), and juror management ($4.8 million), and said future funding for new judges should include the full courtroom system, not judges alone. Fernandez-Barquin also raised concerns about unfunded mandates, rising retirement and health costs, low court-side pay, and the need to revisit filing fees and trust fund allocations. Members asked about collections, payment plans, license suspensions, and whether some fees or trust fund distributions could be redirected; the governor’s budget had already picked up the $2.5 million request for Baker/Marchman/SVP cases.
During public testimony, speakers urged broader criminal justice reforms and additional funding priorities. A prosecutor emphasized that adding judges requires funding for prosecutors, public defenders, and clerks as well. Other speakers called for parole or long-term sentencing reform to reduce prison populations and costs, criticized staffing and conditions in prisons, and raised concerns about inexperienced correctional officers, visitation delays, and lack of air conditioning in some facilities. The committee took no substantive votes on the items discussed and adjourned after hearing the presentations and public comments.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (02/20/2026)
Education Policy and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- Please legislate 1268 as written.
- </c> is really daunting to read legislation. is really daunting to read legislation.
- </c> this legislation. this legislation.
- </c> I could share them with legislators. I could share them with legislators.
- Legislators are elected and legislators lose reelection, and some resign or worse.
Committee:
House Education Policy and Administration
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Criminal Justice and Public Safety (05/23/2025)
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> considered in later legislation. Okay. considered in later legislation. Okay.
- </c> for New Hampshire and all legislators. for New Hampshire and all legislators.
- </c> discussed um nowhere in the legislation discussed um nowhere in the legislation uh<01:13:02.400>
- </c> and and to to try and craft legislation and and to to try and craft legislation to<03:46:46.479>
- </c> that's really worthy of of legislation. that's really worthy of of legislation.
Committee:
House Criminal Justice and Public Safety
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Informal House Session 18 Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- of the House order relative to House rules for the 194th General Court governing the 2025-2026 legislative
- the House order relative to the joint rules for the 194th General Court governing the 2025-2026 legislative
- Canton for the adoption of permanent House rules for the 194th General Court governing the 2025-2026 legislative
- the House order relative to the joint rules for the 194th General Court governing the 2025-2026 legislative
- Canton for the adoption of permanent House rules for the 194th General Court governing the 2025-2026 legislative
Summary:
The House met briefly, opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, and recessed several times while the Temporary Committee on Rules reported out a series of orders. The chamber adopted two commendatory resolutions: one recognizing the AdMe-Tech Foundation’s 16th annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Day and another honoring the Ludlow Community Center/Randall Boys and Girls Club on its 75th anniversary.
Members then took up special procedures for considering House and joint rules for the 194th General Court, governing the 2025-2026 legislative session. The House adopted the special-procedure orders for both the House rules and joint rules. The rules committee also reported that the permanent House rules and permanent joint rules orders ought to be adopted; after suspension of the rules, the House postponed consideration of the permanent rules matters until tomorrow at 1 p.m.
Finally, the House adopted an order to adjourn to meet the next day at 11 a.m., with formal session and roll calls at 1 p.m. The House then adjourned, and members were notified of a Democratic caucus at noon in Room A1.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:50:28.480><c> representative</c> inexpedient to legislate representative inexpedient to legislate
- </c> to legislate on House Bill 1399. to legislate on House Bill 1399.
- </c> on the motion of inexpeding to legislate on the motion of inexpeding to legislate on<01:13:29.600
- </c> I think that this piece of legislation I think that this piece of legislation is<01:19:51.040><c
- </c> inexpedient to legislate. inexpedient to legislate.
Committee:
House Finance
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- They didn't know I was a legislator.
- First, this legislation is unnecessary.
- body legislates.
- That legislation was delayed by the Ninth U.S.
- This catastrophic legislation is unnecessary.
Committee:
House House Education Committee of Reference
Summary:
The committee first heard Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horn’s annual State of Education address, which focused on school safety, academic outcomes, school choice, teacher pay, and opposition to DEI/CRT in schools and teacher preparation. Horn said the department has expanded school police officers, promoted Project Momentum and tutoring, supported cell phone restrictions in classrooms, and pushed for more phonics-based reading instruction and stronger university teacher-prep programs. Members questioned him about DEI complaints, cell phone implementation, ESA oversight, school safety funding, reading proficiency, and teacher compensation; Horn said ESA spending is reviewed and recovered when inappropriate, and argued teacher raises should come directly to teachers, not through districts. No formal action was taken on his presentation.
The committee then considered HB 2008, which would prohibit public school libraries from using public funds to pay dues to professional library associations. Sponsor Representative Cooper argued the bill would keep school libraries politically neutral and prevent taxpayer money from supporting ideological advocacy, while saying membership itself would still be allowed if paid privately. Opponents, including a former librarian, a school board member, and the ACLU of Arizona, said the bill would undermine professional development, local control, literacy support, and constitutional rights of association and petition. Supporters said associations promote ideological content and that free professional-development alternatives exist. After public testimony and debate, the committee voted to return HB 2008 with a do-pass recommendation.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Legislative Performance Audit Oversight Committee (06/06/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- Uh trying to prioritize those legislative changes again.
- We implement the legislative changes.
- changes</c> prioritize those legislative changes prioritize those legislative changes again.<00:11:34.880
- </c> prioritize finding these legislative prioritize finding these legislative changes.<00:11:53.760>
- We've worked very closely on a lot of issues and legislation.
Summary:
The meeting focused on the Legislative Budget Assistant audit of the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification’s response to 12 findings, especially those tied to mental health workforce licensure. The executive director said 10 findings were substantially resolved, one fully resolved, and one partially resolved, with most issues tied to ongoing rulemaking. He explained that the office regulates 61 professions, has limited rules-drafting staff, and is working through a long rulemaking process while also adapting to frequent statutory changes. The committee discussed the first finding on license portability/endorsement, which the director said was the office’s highest priority and had been implemented through universal recognition rules adopted in 2023.
Members asked detailed questions about how the office reviews other states’ licensing standards, whether it evaluates jurisdictions case-by-case or maintains a database, and how many jurisdictions qualify for endorsement in various professions. The director said the office initially reviewed all states and professions at once, now maintains and updates a list of substantially similar jurisdictions, and sometimes evaluates narrower jurisdictions such as counties, cities, or foreign countries. He noted that some professions, like nursing, have broad reciprocity, while others, including some mental health-related fields, vary widely and may have only a limited number of qualifying jurisdictions. He also said the office is exploring whether AI could help with research and tracking, though not with final verification.
The committee then turned to expedited licensure processing. The director said the office now handles examination, review, and issuance or denial based on board-set criteria, rather than requiring every board to review every application, which has sped up processing. He said delays still occur with criminal background checks and FBI fingerprint processing because of paper forms, federal involvement, and back-and-forth with the Department of Safety when releases are incomplete or incorrect. Members raised concerns about broader state process bottlenecks and asked whether legislation could help streamline the system. A legislator said he was already working on related background-check language for another agency and believed the current draft may satisfy FBI requirements.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs (05/13/2025)
Election Law and Municipal Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:14:09.920><c> body,</c> and determined by the legislative body, and determined by the legislative
- So, um, again, you know, we ultimately think that the legislative body and the voters who show up and
- So, um, again, you know, we ultimately think that the legislative body and the voters who show up and
- So the legislative<00:17:58.799><c> body</c><00:17:59.120><c> does</c><00:17:59.280><c> have</c><00:17
- :59.440><c> that</c><00:17:59.679><c> type</c><00:17:59.840><c> of</c> legislative body does have that
Committee:
Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Workforce committee debates HF1325 to change MN's earned sick, safe time law 3/12/25
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you for the opportunity to share our members' support for legislative modifications to the sick
- We appreciate certain clarifications that were made during the last legislative session, which included
- </c><00:42:12.240><c> to</c> goals of esst I urge legislators to goals of esst I urge legislators to
- </c><01:10:18.679><c> by</c> this place where we're legislating by this place where we're legislating
- We are seeking to pass a piece of legislation to add to state policy for the reasonable employer and
Summary:
The committee took up House File 1325 and adopted the author’s A2 amendment before hearing testimony. Representative Schultz presented the bill as a set of bipartisan changes to make Minnesota’s earned sick and safe time law more workable for small businesses, public employers, and taxpayers, arguing the current law is an unfunded mandate that increases costs and property taxes. The bill’s supporters said it would add flexibility, including changes affecting coverage for certain workers, employer size thresholds, front-loading, weather-related exceptions, and a delay on penalties.
Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach of the Department of Labor and Industry opposed the bill, saying it would exclude about 800,000 workers, or roughly 30% of the workforce, from earned sick and safe time protections and create confusion and enforcement problems. She also objected to the proposed penalty delay, saying the department already uses compliance assistance and needs penalty authority for serious violations. The Minnesota Chamber supported modifications to the mandate, saying businesses—especially small ones—have struggled with compliance and that the law has had unintended effects on PTO policies and leave use. The League of Minnesota Cities supported parts of the bill, especially changes affecting more generous city leave policies and weather-event exemptions, saying current language creates confusion and can interfere with emergency staffing.
Opponents from Education Minnesota, SEIU Minnesota, TakeAction Minnesota, and a nurse from Unity Hospital argued the bill would strip protections from part-time workers, minors, and workers with family caregiving needs, and would weaken a law they said has helped workers avoid discipline or lost wages when sick. Supporters from counties and an HR consultant emphasized administrative burdens, emergency staffing needs during weather events, and the difficulty of applying ESS rules to existing leave policies. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided; the bill was laid over for further consideration.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development - 02/18/26
Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development
Transcript Highlights:
- Miss Spence, please. >> Key Spence, committee legislative assistant for the A committee and the Veterans
- I'm also an intern for Senator Putnam. >> Hi, I'm David Wing, legislative assistant to State Senator
- </c> >> Hi, I'm David Wing, legislative >> Hi, I'm David Wing, legislative assistant<00:04
- Uh you all did give legislative session.
- </c><00:56:28.559><c> session</c> created in the 2022 legislative session created in the 2022 legislative
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 03/17/25
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> legislative branch. legislative branch. Well,<00:16:24.240><c> Mr.
- </c> have worked uh since last legislative have worked uh since last legislative session<01:03:37.520
- ><c> group</c><01:05:04.960><c> which</c> legislative advisory work group which legislative advisory
- </c><01:09:03.920><c> proposed</c> under the legislation and proposed under the legislation and proposed
- </c> you'll see the new legislation you'll see the new legislation classifies<01:25:43.120><c> data</
Committee:
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources, May 27, 2026 - AM
Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> And then our Policy and Legislative And then our Policy and Legislative Affairs<00:04:30.080><c>
- </c><00:47:08.960><c> committee</c> authorized legislative committee authorized legislative committee
- ><c> analysis</c> And the legislative fiscal analysis And the legislative fiscal analysis estimates<01
- >> it it may require legislative action. >> it it may require legislative action.
- And you have legislative mandates.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Funding caps in the legislation or enrollment caps.
- </c> it just looks like enabling legislation it just looks like enabling legislation like<00:40:10.680
- This is a complex piece of legislation.
- </c><02:14:19.960><c> these</c> considered as part of legislation these considered as part of legislation
- </c><02:41:17.240><c> okay</c> you questions from the legislators okay you questions from the legislators
Committee:
Senate Education
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session May 11th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I rise on behalf of the California Legislative Black Caucus in strong support of SR 97, recognizing May
- As members of the California Legislative Black Caucus, we recognize this struggle and promise, and we
- Kim Coco Iwamoto, the first transgender state legislator in Hawaii's history, who's an alumna of San
- We highlight the work that they have done, and the API Legislative Caucus is no different.
- Please accept this gift on behalf of the AAPI Legislative Caucus.