Video & Transcript : 'open primary' :
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MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Twenty One - Monday, February 16
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- His efforts opened doors for more authentic representation on television.
- The clerk will ring the bell and open the board. Thank you. Thank you.
- the door, check the ID and open the door and then get back to the counter.
- the door, check the ID and open the door and then get back the counter.
- I'd be open to that.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (02/11/2026)
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><01:03:43.200><c> them</c> that these unsafe products opened them that these unsafe products opened
- Um, I'm open for questions.
- Um, I'm open for questions.
- Um, I'm open for questions.
- I'm open for questions.
Committee:
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm not as open to the as we discussed.
- </c><01:36:43.440><c> because,</c> available child care openings because, available child care openings
- And um, for that I am open to questions.”
- And um, for that I am open to questions.” >> Thank you. Uh, I have one.
- </c> um for that I am open to questions. um for that I am open to questions.
Committee:
House Ways and Means
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Children and Family Law (03/25/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- turn it over to the subcommittee to see any responses you might have to those questions and to my opening
- There are two primary avenues to challenge something that you feel is untoward in a courtroom.
- there<01:32:16.239><c> are</c><01:32:16.400><c> two</c><01:32:16.719><c> two</c><01:32:17.040><c> primary
- </c><01:32:17.440><c> Avenues</c><01:32:17.880><c> to</c> there are two two primary Avenues to there
- are two two primary Avenues to challenge<01:32:18.679><c> something</c><01:32:19.000><c> that</c><01:
Summary:
The subcommittee on the Children and Family Law Committee met organizationally to continue work on family court issues, building on a prior special committee’s report and taking a collaborative approach with the Judiciary. The chair said the group would focus on solutions rather than rehashing public complaints, and identified three main topics for early study: specialization and training of family court judges, the extent to which judges should be bound by the rules of evidence, and whether mediation in family cases should be mandatory or voluntary and what qualifications mediators should have. A fourth concern was also raised about overlap between superior court domestic violence cases and family court custody/support matters, and whether one judge should hear both. Members discussed whether to divide into smaller subcommittees, but the prevailing view was to work as a committee of the whole at first. Most members agreed that additional public testimony was unlikely to add much, though recent concerns could still be emailed to the committee.
The committee then heard from Attorney Erin Krian, general counsel for the judicial branch, and Judge Michael Mace. Krian said the judicial branch could provide additional witnesses on mediation and judicial training, including Judge Kissinger, and noted the branch was preparing materials on how other states handle the issues. Mace described the history of the Family Division and said he had reviewed older reports going back to the 1990s. He also outlined current judicial branch efforts, including expanded shadowing for new judges, monthly family-law trainings, and a year-long focus on family law topics. He reported that court rules had been updated to clarify notice requirements for minor guardianship changes, and that the branch had received positive feedback on the family access motion, which provides a statutory timeline and listed remedies for parenting-time disputes.
Members also discussed prior committee work on rules of evidence and family court procedures. One member recalled recommending quiet review of any judges who appeared to apply evidence rules inconsistently, and Krian said the administrative judge can review complaints even if they come from a single person. The committee also received a status update on prior initiatives, including a federal grant for guardian ad litem services for indigent litigants in four locations, testing of redesigned court forms, and continued training improvements. The chair scheduled the next subcommittee meeting for April 1 and the full Children and Family Law Committee for April 8, with further documents from committee research and NCSL to be circulated.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- The system is now open. Senators, vote. The system is now open. Senators, vote.
- The system is now open. Senators, vote. The system is now open. Senators, vote.
- The system is now open. Senators, vote. The system is now open. Senators, vote.
- The system is now open. Senators, vote. Those opposed vote no. The system is now open.
- The system is now open.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, April 15, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- During several decades of its existence, German was the church's primary language.
- It tears open a new one.
- It expands that open a new one.
- or that clinic is still open, it means they made drastic cuts to keep it open.
- And rural to keep the doors open.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- taking<00:26:30.080><c> an</c><00:26:30.240><c> ocean</c><00:26:31.200><c> uh</c><00:26:31.480><c> open
- </c><00:26:31.720><c> ocean</c><00:26:32.080><c> swimming</c> taking an ocean uh open ocean swimming
- taking an ocean uh open ocean swimming test<00:26:32.919><c> time</c><00:26:33.200><c> swimming</c><00
- So there's a transfer period where the department teachers are able to look at the openings and apply
- Okay, members, we'll open up the questions. You did a good job. Thank you.
Committee:
House Finance
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
Transcript Highlights:
- Security benefits for kids in foster care is because my amazing Senator Joe Comerford hosted some open
- But one of the things would be to open that up to the care and protection cases as well.
- Having a CRA open is factored in when you are put into DCF custody.
- But that home remained open for nearly 10 years before it was finally shut down.
- I anticipated it was regarding a different child, but when I opened it, it was late.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities held a hybrid hearing on a series of child welfare bills focused on DCF, foster care, mandated reporting, educational records, and family support. Chair Kennedy and Chair Livingstone opened with accessibility and testimony rules, then heard testimony on bills including S.127 on expanding mandated reporters, S.107/H.235 on a Foster Children’s Bill of Rights, S.106/H.228 on transferring foster care review from DCF to the Office of the Child Advocate, H.258/S.125 on an electronic backpack for foster children’s educational records, H.205 on kinship foster care background checks, H.246/H.266 on minimizing trauma in care and protection cases, and S.159 on support for families after sudden unexpected infant death.
Supporters of the mandated reporter bill, led by Sen. Feeney and Foxborough advocates, described a local model that trains all adults who work with children and argued the state should scale that approach statewide to improve recognition and reporting of abuse. Testimony on the foster care bills emphasized the need for clearer rights, better notice to children and attorneys, stronger remedies, and independent oversight. Advocates, youth with lived experience, and legal organizations described placement instability, delayed notifications, abuse in care, poor educational continuity, and the need for rights around safety, family contact, culture, language, and access to records. Several witnesses urged that the Foster Children’s Bill of Rights include enforceable court remedies, not just reporting requirements.
On the oversight bill, supporters argued DCF should not review its own foster care system and pointed to poor outcomes, high placement instability, and recent investigative reporting as evidence for moving review responsibilities to the Office of the Child Advocate. On the electronic backpack bill, testimony focused on the need for real-time data sharing and a centralized system so schools can receive foster students’ records quickly and support continuity. On the trauma-minimization bill, Rep. Miskin framed the proposal as a set of practical changes to reduce harm during removals and court involvement. On the SUID bill, Sen. Lovely said families should be given information about available grief and support resources after an infant death. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and questions.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Higher Education Funding Review Committee Jun 3rd, 2026
Higher Education Funding Review Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Some of the primary differences compared to the formula that was presented last meeting are, instead
- No, this is an open discussion.
- No, this is an open discussion. And for now, hurting President Willis. Okay.
- No, this is an open discussion. For now, I’m hearing President Willis from State College.
- It's all open. That week is open. Would August 18th work for people?
Summary:
The Higher Education Funding Review Committee met to continue work on a draft higher education funding formula and related capital building fund changes. Lisa Johnson of the North Dakota University System updated the committee on the board’s developing policy for low-producing academic programs. She said the board is using a five-year rolling window, with thresholds of fewer than 10 undergraduate graduates or fewer than 5 graduate graduates, and that programs flagged in three consecutive review cycles would go to the board for review. Possible outcomes include continuation, continuation with modifications, inactivation, or termination. Members asked about how the policy would account for enrollment, program costs, workforce need, and programs that serve students outside their major. Johnson said the board would likely use an accompanying procedure to consider those factors. She also reported that about 200 programs could potentially be reviewed under current guidance, with 135 inactivated and 112 terminated, and said the process is intended to support quality and stewardship rather than simply cut programs.
Jamie Wilkie then reported on the Capital Building Fund. He reviewed the fund’s history, matching requirements, and use for extraordinary repairs, deferred maintenance, and some legislatively authorized projects. He said about $334 million in state and matching dollars has been invested overall, with roughly 78.7% going to deferred maintenance and extraordinary repairs. Committee members pressed for updated information on how much deferred maintenance has actually been reduced, and several members said they wanted clearer reporting on the return on investment from new buildings versus repairs. NDSU representatives said the tier funding has helped significantly reduce deferred maintenance and allowed demolition and renovation work on campus. The committee also discussed the need for updated five-year facility plans and space-utilization information from the institutions.
The committee then began a section-by-section review of a draft bill that would replace the current higher education funding formula with an FTE-based model and restructure the capital building fund. The draft would fund UND and NDSU differently from the other nine institutions, use fall enrollment rather than completed credits, add performance funding for completions in in-demand fields, create research incentives for UND and NDSU, and combine capital building fund tiers while changing matching requirements and eligible uses. Members raised concerns about the treatment of professional students, the use of CIP codes, incentives for waivers, and whether the formula should rely on more current data. The committee did not take final action on the draft during this meeting, but it continued detailed discussion and indicated more review would follow.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- I'll try to be quick in my opening statements here, but I'm joined by my deputy Agency Director Chief
- Please proceed if you've got an opening statement, and then we'll get to questions. Thank you, Mr.
- And if it's required to be competitive, it goes out for an open bid.
- Please proceed if you've got an opening statement. Yes, sir. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
- Cost, however, was the primary deciding factor per federal requirements.
Committee:
House State Affairs
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Please proceed if you've got an opening statement, and then we'll get to questions. Thank you, Mr.
- If it goes out for an open bid, we can't be assured that we're going to get the contract the next time
- Yes, sir. proceed if you've got an opening statement. Yes, sir. Thanks, Mr. Chairman.
- I'll keep my opening remarks brief, but Chairman, members of the committee.
- Cost, however, was the primary deciding factor per federal requirements.
Committee:
House State Affairs
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on Housing Finance and Affordability Aug 27th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I would like to now pass it on to my co-chair to say a few words and also have his opening remarks.
- We recently opened a development in the South Bay, and a resident shared with me that she had faced a
- We recently opened a development in the South Bay and a resident shared with me that she had faced a
- You know, I don't see it just opening wide up, which goes back to the places: how can we build these
- I'm going to just open up public comment.
Summary:
The Assembly Select Committee on Housing Finance and Affordability held its first hearing of 2025 to examine California’s housing finance system, with opening remarks emphasizing the state’s severe housing shortage, high costs, and the need for practical recommendations to the Legislature and Governor. Co-chairs described the committee as an educational and problem-solving forum focused on financing housing production, first-time homeownership, mixed-income developments, and affordability across the income spectrum. Witnesses from state agencies and the development sector were invited to explain how housing is financed and where the system is breaking down.
Panelists from the California Housing Partnership, the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency, the Tax Credit Allocation Committee/State Treasurer’s Office, CalHFA, and Related outlined the “capital stack” used to finance affordable housing, stressing that projects typically rely on multiple public and private sources, including federal and state low-income housing tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, state subsidies, local funds, and rental income. Speakers noted that affordable housing rents generally cannot support full project costs without public subsidy, and that recent federal changes—especially the expansion of the 4% and 9% tax credit programs and the reduction of the bond financing threshold for 4% credits—should allow California to finance substantially more units. CalHFA also described its homeownership programs, including My Home, Dream For All, and disaster-related mortgage assistance, as well as its multifamily lending and bond issuance programs.
Several witnesses and committee members emphasized that the system remains too complex, too slow, and underfunded. They pointed to the need for more state funding, a housing bond, a permanent funding source, and better coordination among agencies, while also citing recent streamlining efforts such as AB 434’s SuperNOFA, AB 519’s one-stop-shop working group, and the planned California Housing and Homeless Agency reorganization. Members raised concerns about equity, access, missing-middle housing, gender and racial disparities, and whether current programs adequately serve extremely low-income households and those at risk of homelessness. No formal votes or actions were taken during the hearing; the discussion ended with committee members and witnesses agreeing that both funding and administrative reform are needed to increase production and improve affordability.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- The public comment portal will be left open till 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 25th, to allow those who
- Uh, may I make an opening statement on it before, before the, the bill author, uh, begins.
- So if you have public comment, please, uh, remember the portal is open until 10 Monday at 5. OK.
- Um, public comment portal is open till 5 on Monday. All right.
- As I, as I stated earlier in my opening, Mr.
Committee:
House State Affairs
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- For instance, the provisions of Senate Bill 12 that allowed for open enrollment across school districts
- Our country is being overrun by illegal immigration through the open border policies.
- On the House floor, Representative Frank adopted a third-reading amendment that would have opened the
- And this would authorize the municipality to close a highway, a venue, or an open beach park.
- Or an open beach park.
Summary:
The Senate opened with an invocation and then took up several conference committee matters and resolutions. It granted the House request for a conference committee on House Bill 46 and adopted a conference report on Senate Bill 37, which was described as higher education governance reform, including stronger board authority, changes to faculty senates, general education requirements, and a new ombudsman office. Senators also adopted a large package of resolutions and HCRs by voice vote.
A major focus was Senate Bill 12, the “Parental Bill of Rights,” whose conference report was adopted after extended questioning. The bill was described as giving parents more access to school materials and grievance procedures, requiring parental consent for student clubs, and restricting school district employees from assisting with social transitioning or related gender-identity instruction. Senators raised concerns about effects on students already socially transitioned and on parental rights in medical or psychological decisions; the author said the House language was retained in key areas and that districts would need policies and parent notification. The report passed 20-11.
The Senate then adopted a resolution allowing the conference committee on Senate Bill 1, the state budget for fiscal years 2026-2027, to go outside the bounds, and later adopted the budget conference report. Senators highlighted major funding for public education, property tax relief, public safety, health and human services, child care, water and transportation infrastructure, and the Texas Energy Fund. The budget discussion also covered higher education, mental health facilities, community attendant wages, rural hospitals, DFPS case management, child care assistance, and a study rider on TRS. The report passed unanimously, 30-0.
Finally, the Senate suspended rules to take up Senate Bill 8 and adopted its conference report. The bill requires counties with jails or jail contracts to participate in the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program, with sheriffs choosing among available models and counties receiving tiered grants to help cover costs. Supporters framed it as a public safety measure targeting criminal illegal aliens, while opponents questioned whether it would divert local resources and increase fear in immigrant communities. The report was adopted after debate.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm going to turn it over to our vice chair for any opening remarks.
- We will open it up for public comment before we adjourn the hearing.
- Dennis Cuarez-Romero with the California Primary Care Association.
- How am I supposed to stay open in my business? Thank you for listening.
- How am I supposed to stay open in my business? Thank you for listening.
Committee:
House Budget
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Budget Review Sub. on Primary & Secondary Education & Workforce Development (2-17-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- We call this fifth meeting of the House Budget Review Subcommittee on Primary and Secondary Education
- </c><00:27:10.640><c> to</c> every single day and we're open to every single day and we're open to placing
- And with that, we'll open it up to questions.
- And with that, we'll open it up to questions. >> Representative Bojanowski. >> All right.
- </c> we'll uh open it up to questions. Okay. we'll uh open it up to questions. Okay.
Summary:
The subcommittee met without a quorum and did not approve minutes, but heard testimony on budget line items for Data Seam and Teach for America. Andrew McNeel of Kentucky Free and representatives from the Commonwealth Policy Center argued that both programs rely heavily on recurring taxpayer support and should be re-evaluated. McNeel cited a 2020 Office of Policy and Audit examination of Data Seam, saying the program had received more than $30 million in state support since 2006, including $3.5 million in the current budget, and that the audit raised concerns about administrative overhead, alleged threats to districts, and the use of line-item language to justify sole-source contracting. He recommended suspending Data Seam funding this biennium, directing a new special audit, and requiring reimbursement of audit costs.
The witnesses also urged the committee to withhold funding for Teach for America, saying the organization’s materials and history showed a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that they opposed. They pointed to past statements, leadership titles, and program language as evidence that DEI concepts remained embedded in the organization, and suggested any funding should be redirected directly to school districts instead. Mike Harmon and Richard Nelson echoed those concerns, while also saying long-running programs should be periodically reviewed for efficiency.
Teach for America Appalachia representatives then testified in support of the program. Executive director C.D. Morton described the organization as a teacher-preparation and leadership-development program serving rural eastern Kentucky, saying it had recruited and supported more than 325 teachers since 2011, with about 30 current core members in several counties and roughly 2,800 students impacted daily. He said the program helps fill hard-to-staff vacancies, that about 80% of teachers stay for a third year, and that many alumni remain in education. In response to questions from Representative Bojanowski about retention and cost, Morton said more than 60% of alumni are still in education, but he could not give a precise classroom-teacher retention number beyond the program’s broader alumni data.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Financial Services Jun 22nd, 2026
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Transcript Highlights:
- So, and you've always been open to having those conversations and trying to figure out how we get there
- industry so that we didn't have more devastating stories like this happening so and you've always been open
- You know that the primary driver, of course, is land costs, and that is typically large lots, but environmental
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Financial Services
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session May 26th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Gracious and loving God, as we come to you in prayer on this day, may we be open and responsive to your
- has told the press that he has every intention of seizing ballots again, as early as after the June primary
- on improving conditions and enforcing its own detention standards at the inspected facilities, ICE opened
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses May 7th, 2026
Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Businesses
Transcript Highlights:
- Research and Robotics has made this neighborhood its home, and the Parker Early Childhood Center opened
- So I think this is a broad and open question in the sense of, I understand the benefit of private funds
- days off work to find a summer program for her son, a parenting support group for herself, and a primary
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held its final hearing of the session on H. 5187 and S. 3022, the Enough Act, which would create a grant program to support place-based, cradle-to-career anti-poverty initiatives in high-need communities. Chairs Andy Vargas and Sen. Adam Gómez opened the hearing by thanking committee members and stakeholders, and several lawmakers, including Sen. Sal DiDomenico, Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, and Rep. Antonio Cabral, described the bill as a bottom-up approach that would let local organizations, schools, and community partners direct resources where they are most needed. They emphasized that poverty, housing instability, food insecurity, and chronic absenteeism are interconnected and that the bill is intended to build local “backbone” infrastructure rather than fund isolated programs.
A series of educators, school leaders, and nonprofit advocates testified in support, including leaders from Chelsea Public Schools, Bunker Hill Community College, Strategies for Children, AFT Massachusetts, United Way, the Boston Foundation, the New Commonwealth Fund, Give Black Alliance, Eastern Bank Foundation, and the Greater Boston Food Bank. They argued that schools alone cannot overcome the effects of concentrated poverty and pointed to research showing that children arrive at school already affected by poverty-related gaps. Several witnesses described existing local efforts in Chelsea, Boston, New Bedford, Springfield, Haverhill, and Lowell, and said the Enough Act would help coordinate services, align data and goals, and strengthen community voice. Some also noted that the bill could leverage philanthropic and private investment and cited Maryland and Harlem Children’s Zone as models.
The hearing also featured testimony from Harlem Children’s Zone CEO Kwame Owusu-Kesse and founder Jeffrey Canada, who said the model has shown that sustained, coordinated supports can reduce the role of luck in children’s outcomes and should be scaled in Massachusetts. Committee members asked about sustainability, funding, and how the bill would interact with existing efforts such as community schools, the Student Opportunity Act, and McKinney-Vento homelessness supports. Witnesses responded that the bill would complement those programs by creating a broader, community-led framework and that long-term sustainability would require public, philanthropic, and private support. No vote was taken during the hearing.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development Mar 26th, 2026
Agriculture, Forestry, Aquaculture, and Rural Development
Transcript Highlights:
- and a lot of these containers may come in in Texas or Mississippi, wherever, and then the containers open
- Embassy, and they help us, one, to open the doors, but also to facilitate whatever type of action we're
- This is a primary theme of this year's legislative session, and I really want you all to understand that
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes and welcomed a new member, then took up a series of agriculture-related bills, many focused on Louisiana seafood and producer protections. HB 121 by Rep. Domain would let the Department of Agriculture and Forestry seize and destroy adulterated imported seafood after a stop order, rather than relying on another agency to do it; the commissioner said the bill would improve enforcement without adding major cost, and it was reported favorably. HB 725, also by Rep. Domain, was amended to require retailers to keep invoices for imported seafood for six months so inspectors can verify country of origin and labeling; the committee adopted the technical amendment and reported the bill favorably. HB 367, dealing with Structural Pest Control Commission hearing notices, was described as a technical change to align notice procedures with the Administrative Procedure Act and was also reported favorably. HB 505, on certification cards for commercial applicators, pesticide salespersons, and agricultural consultants, was amended to keep unexpended pesticide fund money in the fund and streamline renewal timing; it too passed favorably.
The committee then considered several measures aimed at protecting farmers from market losses. HB 344 by Rep. Coates raised the Grain and Cotton Indemnity Fund thresholds for suspending and restarting assessments, with the commissioner explaining that recent bankruptcies and broker failures had shown the need for a larger reserve; the bill was reported favorably. HB 370, a follow-up measure on the same fund, increased the assessment rate on agricultural commodities so the fund could grow faster, and it also passed without objection. HB 847, on Soil and Water Conservation Commission district supervisor elections, was amended to require certified nominating petitions, shift election administration to the Secretary of State, and remove outdated statewide election language; supporters said the change would modernize a system that had become costly and unwieldy, and the bill was reported favorably. HB 370 and HB 847 drew discussion about ballot access, election administration, and the nonpartisan nature of soil and water districts.
The meeting also included a lengthy agriculture update from Commissioner Strain and a presentation from LSU Ag Center Dean Matt Lee. Strain discussed seafood imports, labeling enforcement, shrimp industry promotion, feral swine damage, fertilizer and diesel cost pressures, pesticide disposal, and export markets for rice and timber, emphasizing that Louisiana agriculture depends on testing, marketing, and international trade. Lee reported that LSU Ag Center research is ranked among the nation’s top agricultural programs, with major work in sugarcane variety development, and said the center’s research generates substantial economic returns for Louisiana producers. Several industry representatives, including Louisiana Farm Bureau and LSU Ag Center staff, spoke in support of the bills and the state’s agricultural programs.