Video & Transcript : 'fairness in mitigation' :
Page 473 of 500
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Emerging Issues Feb 9th, 2026
Emerging Issues and Professional Registration
Transcript Highlights:
- Anyone else in favor? Anybody come in in opposition? Anybody for informational purposes on 30-37?
- This makes sure that they pay their fair share. In land and property in Missouri.
- be in there.
- Anybody in favor? Anybody in opposition?
- Anybody in favor? Anybody in opposition?
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 3037, which would allow certain Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Account tax credits, beginning in 2028, to be carried back to the immediately prior tax year. Representative Allen said the bill was a technical timing change that would not alter the credit amount, cap, refundability, transferability, or other safeguards. Supporters, including the American Federation for Children and a representative of the scholarship organization, said the change would help donors better match contributions to their actual tax liability and could increase participation. One member raised concern about the fiscal impact on education funding, noting the Department of Revenue’s estimate of reduced revenue, while the sponsor said the delayed start date was intended to give the state time to plan.
The committee then heard House Bill 2830, which would increase the recorder fee that funds the Missouri Housing Trust Fund from $3 to $9 per real estate document. Representative Collins said the increase would strengthen funding for affordable housing, rental assistance, and homeless prevention. Supporters from Empower Missouri, Love Columbia, Peter and Paul Community Services, and Missouri’s Coalition of Recovery Support Providers testified that the fund is under-resourced, with many requests going unmet and some housing programs unable to support new construction or rehabilitation projects. They described local housing shortages, homelessness, and the need for more capital funding, arguing the fee increase would help meet demand without using general revenue. No opposition testimony was presented.
Finally, the committee took up House Bills 1778 and 2760, both aimed at protecting religious exercise during emergencies. The sponsors said the bills were prompted by COVID-era restrictions on churches and would prevent government orders from limiting worship services, while still allowing compliance with building and fire codes and excluding violence or harm. Members debated whether the bills would create a special exemption for houses of worship and whether they could interfere with public health responses to future outbreaks. A Baptist minister testified in opposition, arguing that religious gatherings should not receive special treatment and that restrictions should apply consistently to all mass gatherings. The hearing ended without a vote, and the committee adjourned after public testimony.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Right, oh yeah, fair, fair, fair. Do you see this bill as actually expanding?
- So in the 1970s, raw milk was sold in the...
- In Austin, we have a walk-in center for STI testing.
- in allowing... ...us to serve patients that are growing in need in the state.
- This is something that in my 40 years in EMS, I've never seen in this chamber or in this building.
Bills:
HB3000 , HB2622 , HB2283 , HB541 , HB1776 , HB1803 , HB1669 , HB2588 , HB220 , HB3415 , HB50 , HB1314 , HB 107 , HB220 , HB50 , HB107
Committee:
House Public Health
Keywords:
ambulance service, rural healthcare, grants, financial assistance, qualified counties, mental health, patient transport, female attendants, security measures, healthcare regulation, epinephrine, anaphylaxis, health care, school safety, training, emergency response, direct patient care, healthcare, physicians, medical services
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- in the process.
- in the process.
- Madam Pro Tem, members, Ted Topin, in support of the professional engineers in California government.
- Then, you know, CalHR will step in and assist the HR shops in those processes.
- So absolutely, we’re moving in that direction.” “We continue to move in that direction.
Committee:
Senate Rules
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Feb 12th, 2025
Military and Veterans Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Not only in our service territory either; we serve a lot up in North Alabama.
- To ensure fairness, we will alternate between people speaking in favor or against, but I think mainly
- them in.
- I'm sure that in the morning of 9/11, I was in a watermelon field in Tampa when I got a phone call from
- I was in the first 100 days of combat in Afghanistan.
Committee:
House Military and Veterans Affairs
Keywords:
veterans affairs, Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, State Board of Veterans Affairs, commissioner, governor appointment, board advisory, veteran service organizations, veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, veteran service officers, district managers, state veterans home trust fund, veterans benefits, military veterans, disabled veterans, elderly veterans, active-duty service members, state agency reorganization, executive authority, governance reform
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Apostle Paul said, 'Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.' So let's pray.
- As Apostle Paul tells us in Romans, may we be joyful in hope and patient in prayer and faithful to pray
- In Jesus' name, amen.
- House be in order before going to ease the house in the order before going to ease the house in the House
- That we will frequently lose votes on substantive matters in this body, but we do expect procedural fairness
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- in in uh $10,000 in sales in in uh Minnesota<00:52:14.960><c> and</c><00:52:15.200><c> and</c><00:52
- in refunds to hardworking Minnesotans in various places.
- urban areas rural areas all over in in urban areas rural areas all over in any<01:03:45.960><c> any<
- in the in the you so just to be clear in the in the bill<01:14:10.120><c> it</c><01:14:10.440><c> references
- ><01:24:57.600><c> context</c> we really in in the in the context we really in in the in the context
Committee:
House Taxes
Keywords:
taxation, income tax, property tax, corporate tax, homestead credit, local government aid, tax credits, economic development, taxpayer assistance, tax credit outreach, tax preparation, free tax help, IRS, Department of Revenue, general fund appropriation, earned income tax credit, child tax credit, volunteer income tax assistance, VITA, low-income taxpayers
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Prohibiting entities from engaging in election activity 3/12/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This is a major step forward in strengthening free and fair elections in our state, and thank you for
- <c> free</c><00:25:07.440><c> and</c><00:25:07.840><c> fair</c> forward in strengthening free and fair
- forward in strengthening free and fair elections<00:25:09.440><c> in</c><00:25:09.760><c> our</c><00
- our economy, in our society, and in this case in our politics.
- in this case in our politics.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
06/12/2026 - Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Appropriations, Transportation and Technology
Transcript Highlights:
- more homeschoolers, not those that are in a school in a private school.
- Some kids are in classrooms where the roof is falling in. The rats are running in.
- in education.
- The elephant in the room is the elephant in the room.
- When I first came to the legislature in 1994, in my opinion the education system in Arizona was a mess
Bills:
HCR2048
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Information Technology Oversight Committee (10-8-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:03:56.720><c> played</c><00:03:57.200><c> in</c> leadcore play in the uh in or played in leadcore
- I mean, in the in the different metrics.
- be in uh distributed in that would not be in uh distributed in the<01:04:00.960><c> public</c><01:04:
- in Martin County and in Perry challenges in Martin County and in Perry County<01:04:33.760><c> in</c
- Also, in in bananium and in general.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Discussion of the KentuckyWired Network 00:00:55
Discussion of the Water Resource Information System 00:35.40
Discussion of Geographic Information Systems 00:52:30
Discussion of Committee Report to LRC 01:15:05, 958, all
Summary:
The Information Technology Oversight Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and then heard a presentation from Leadcore representatives Jimmy Bird, Mike Murray, and Rebecca Moss on the Kentucky Wired network. Leadcore described its role as the design-builder and service provider under the KCNA contract, saying the network was built with roughly 13,200 feet of fiber, mostly aerial, and that the use of non-armored cable was a Kentucky-side decision made to reduce cost. They also said aerial construction and non-armored cable increase maintenance challenges, including storm damage and squirrel-related damage, and reported FY25 service activity of 104 break-fix events, 30 maintenance replacements, 64 storm-damage events, and nearly 13,000 feet of fiber replaced to date.
Committee members questioned whether the original project anticipated this level of replacement and whether any forecast existed for maintenance under non-armored cable. Leadcore said it did not do a formal forecast and could not say whether the replacement rate was above or below norms, though it acknowledged the decision not to use armored cable came from the Kentucky side of the contract. Members also asked about whether replacements caused network degradation; Leadcore said it tries to replace cable at existing splice points to avoid degradation and, where needed, uses armored cable for replacement sections going forward.
The committee then explored Leadcore’s relationship with Excel and KCNA. Leadcore said it has a service-level agreement for KCNA-related fibers but not for dark fibers used by Excel, and that Kentucky Wired fibers get priority on service requests. It said outages are reported through a 1-800 number and that it was not aware of any access problems to the huts. On the tech refresh, Leadcore said its understanding is that maintaining the network is its responsibility, but the technology refresh is not; it said only a very limited amount of refresh has occurred and that this did not match the original contract intent. Leadcore also said it had not been asked to defer maintenance. The chair closed by saying the testimony would inform a committee report and that he intended to recommend clawing back or withholding some previously authorized Kentucky Wired and refresh funding until an audit is complete, with the committee to vote on a report later.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- Apostle Paul said, 'Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.' So let's pray.
- As Apostle Paul tells us in Romans, may we be joyful in hope and patient in prayer and faithful to pray
- In Jesus' name, amen.
- House be in order before going to ease the house in the order before going to ease the house in the House
- That we will frequently lose votes on substantive matters in this body, but we do expect procedural fairness
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal, and received messages from the Governor and Senate. The Governor reported signing House Bill 624, while the Senate transmitted enrolled Senate Bill 1332 for the Speaker’s signature, sent Senate Bill 1361 to the First Reading Calendar, returned several House bills for enrollment, and reported House Bill 610 had failed in the Senate. Committee reports moved multiple bills forward, including appropriations measures and policy bills on elections, youth service organizations, agriculture, health and welfare, revenue and taxation, and general government. House Joint Memorial 19, calling for elimination of the U.S. Department of Education, was referred for printing. Several new appropriation and policy bills were introduced and referred, including House Bills 866 through 874 and Senate Bill 1361.
The main floor debate centered on House Bill 822, a parental-notification bill concerning minors’ requests related to social or medical transition in schools, child care, and health care settings. Supporters argued it protects parental rights and prevents schools or providers from withholding important information from parents, while opponents said the bill’s definitions were vague, its notification standard was unclear, and the potential penalties—up to $100,000—would chill teachers, coaches, child care workers, and medical providers. Concerns were also raised about committee procedure and the burden on professionals, while supporters responded that the bill only applies when a minor requests help facilitating a transition and that existing processes would prevent the hypothetical problems raised.
House Bill 822 passed the House on a 59-9 vote, with two abstentions and two excused, and was sent to the Senate. After passage, the House suspended Rule 27 by a 57-11 vote to prevent a minority report on the bill from being printed in the journal, prompting objections from minority members about procedural fairness. The House then held remaining third-reading bills one legislative day, made announcements, and adjourned until 10:30 a.m. on March 12, 2026.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- language in the law, putting thresholds in—in other words, you can only remove for malfeasance and incompetence—we
- I'd be interested in the study.
- the feds coming in as well?
- Is that fair?
- We're in recess.
Committee:
Senate House Rules & Order Of Business
Keywords:
Governor's Residence, management committee, government administration, New Mexico, advisory, commission, general services, nominating committees, boards of regents, student representation, political party registration, New Mexico constitution, overdose prevention centers, harm reduction, drug overdose, opioid crisis, substance use disorder, public health, addiction treatment, naloxone
Summary:
The committee first heard Senate Bill 238, which would rename the governor’s residence advisory commission as a governor’s residence management committee and clarify its duties, membership, and authority over furnishings, maintenance, inventories, and hospitality functions at the governor’s residence. Senator Worth and Secretary Designate Anna Silva said the change was needed to remove ambiguity during the transition to a new administration and to improve transparency around the residence, the General Services Department fund, and the separate Mansion Foundation fundraising role. Several senators questioned whether the bill concentrated too much authority in the governor and whether it could enable a large renovation project without sufficient legislative oversight; supporters said major renovations would still require legislative appropriations. The committee ultimately advanced the Senate Rules Committee substitute for SB 238 on a 5-2 vote.
The committee then approved House Joint Resolution 1, which would create bipartisan nominating commissions to vet and recommend university and special school regents to the governor, rather than leaving appointments entirely to the governor’s discretion. Senator Steinborn said the resolution would improve qualifications and reduce conflicts of interest, including by changing the student regent selection process. After brief discussion about party-affiliation restrictions, the resolution received a due pass with no objection.
Two memorials followed. Senate Memorial 21, presented by Senator Stephanics for Senator Bergman, calls for a Department of Health study of overdose prevention tools, including overdose prevention centers and other harm-reduction strategies, in response to New Mexico’s high and rising overdose death rates. Supporters cited rural access challenges and the need to explore all available tools; one senator asked for more accurate county and demographic data in the memorial’s background. The committee gave SM 21 a due pass. Senate Memorial 22, presented by Senator Charlie and the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence, asks the Legislative Finance Committee to convene a working group to map how domestic-violence funding flows through CYFD and related agencies, with an emphasis on transparency, accountability, and provider input. Witnesses said funding streams are fragmented and sometimes unclear, and senators discussed whether the work should remain within CYFD or be overseen elsewhere. The committee also gave SM 22 a due pass. The chair then announced that the committee would hear SB 264 and SB 261 at its next meeting and recessed.
WY
Transcript Highlights:
- But when you put that in place, you're getting a 50% on a pretty fair piece of it.
- But when you put that in place, you're getting a 50% on a pretty fair piece of it.
- But when you put that in place, you're getting a 50% on a pretty fair piece of it.
- So in that particular case, um, here again you're applying that 50% against a large, a fair portion of
- So in that particular case, um, here again you're applying that 50% against a large, a fair portion of
Committee:
Senate Revenue
Keywords:
property tax, homeowner exemption, Wyoming, voter initiative, tax legislation, HB0127, recreation mill levy, recreational facilities, public recreation, mill levy, local tax, county commissioners, school district levy, voter approval, ballot measure, general election, tax referendum, special purpose tax, Wyoming taxation, W.S. 18-9-201
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans Feb 3rd, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- in Tiananmen Square.
- In June 2023, the Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v.
- kept to the men and women who served and were wounded in service, ensuring they receive the fairness
- This Major Richard Star Act was enacted in the 116th Congress in D.C.
- This Major Richard Star Act was enacted in 116th legislative session in D.C.
Summary:
The committee met to take executive action on House Bill 2523, concerning the Community Reinvestment Program, and House Bill 2606, concerning the Office of Privacy and Data Protection. Staff briefed a proposed substitute for HB 2523 and several amendments. The substitute would change how Community Reinvestment Account funds are distributed, require tribal consultation, update the community reinvestment plan on a regular cycle, expand reporting and Office of Equity responsibilities, add definitions, and broaden the WSIPP study. Amendments to shorten the plan update cycle, restrict recipients from receiving other state housing assistance, bar certain officers and family members from grants, require independent audits, and expand WSIPP review were debated; only the amendment changing the plan update cycle from 10 years to 5 years was adopted. The committee then voted 8-5 to report the substitute HB 2523 out of committee with a do pass recommendation. HB 2606, which was described as implementing JLARC recommendations to reduce redundancy and improve efficiency in privacy/data protection functions, was then approved unanimously and reported out with a do pass recommendation.
The committee then held public hearings on House Bill 2684 and House Joint Memorial 4012. HB 2684 would establish rebuttable presumptions that members of certain groups are socially disadvantaged for purposes of OMWBE certification, including adding Middle Eastern and North African individuals to the framework. Testimony was split: some speakers opposed the bill as discriminatory or constitutionally problematic, while others, including representatives of MENA businesses, CAIR Washington, and OMWBE, supported it as a needed fix to improve access to certification and contracting opportunities. The chair noted that amendments could still be submitted before the next day’s executive session, and the bill was set for further consideration the following morning.
House Joint Memorial 4012 urges Congress to bring the Major Richard Star Act to a floor vote. The prime sponsor and veteran advocates testified that the memorial seeks to address the “wounded veteran tax” by allowing combat-injured service members who retire before 20 years of service to receive both retirement pay and VA disability compensation. Supporters said the change would correct an inequity affecting Washington veterans and their families. The committee closed the hearing on the memorial and announced that both HB 2684 and HJM 4012 would be considered the next morning.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee Apr 2nd, 2025
Finance and Taxation General Fund
Transcript Highlights:
- In my opinion, listening to what's said in the bill, I think, if I may, Mr.
- So we've got to find a way to bring in more money in the state coffers.
- It's not in my wheelhouse.
- All in favor say "Aye." carry the bill over. All in favor say "Aye." All in favor say "No."
- In 2022, it was a very limited audit that took place in three counties.
Committee:
Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund
Keywords:
SB245, public assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, food assistance, Alabama Medicaid Agency, Department of Human Resources, eligibility verification, self-attestation, data matching, fraud prevention, improper payments, program integrity, benefit eligibility, income verification, residency verification, asset verification, electronic benefit transfer, EBT, cross-checks
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> in the global economy we want them in in the global economy we want them in the<00:30:40.760><c>
- We can have facilities that offer jobs and that pay their fair share in taxes.
- And that's well supported in research. How's that fair to Minnesota taxpayers and families?
- </c><01:04:18.640><c> to</c><01:04:18.880><c> Minnesota</c> in research how's that fair to Minnesota
- in research how's that fair to Minnesota taxpayers<01:04:20.279><c> and</c><01:04:20.520><c> Families
Committee:
Senate Taxes
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Jobs and Economic Development - 03/04/26
Jobs and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> kind of in in a in the current mindset. kind of in in a in the current mindset.
- </c> error in the in the application, right? error in the in the application, right?
- ><00:41:12.480><c> in</c><00:41:12.720><c> the</c> would show up in the in the um in the would show up
- </c> we saw that in the in the credit card we saw that in the in the credit card space<00:48:01.200><
- </c> ghosting uh in in your in your payment ghosting uh in in your in your payment of<00:56:52.079><c
Committee:
Senate Jobs and Economic Development
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Nov 4th, 2025
Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security
Transcript Highlights:
- Has anything changed in what the criteria is for you to qualify in your bill?
- in March of 2025.
- We plan to participate in the stand down that's going to be in Jacksonville, Florida, in May, so we look
- And you'll see how that comes in important in a little bit.
- Military job fairs in and out of state, air shows.
Summary:
The Committee on Military Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security met to consider SB 96, which originally proposed a new veterans dental care program but was amended to expand the existing Veterans Dental Care Grant Program. The amendment raised eligibility from 300% to 400% of the federal poverty level and added a recurring $500,000 general revenue appropriation. Members discussed whether expanding eligibility without guaranteed additional funding could dilute services for veterans already being served, while supporters argued it would help veterans currently turned away for dental care. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported CS/SB 96 favorably by roll call vote, with Chair Wright voting no.
The committee also approved two committee bills continuing public records exemptions: SPB 7000, covering the address and telephone number of people staying in public emergency shelters during storms or catastrophic events, and SPB 7002, covering certain Department of Military Affairs records stored in or transmitted through Department of Defense systems or related to military cyber operations. Both were moved as committee bills without objection and were favorably reported.
Members then received presentations from Dr. Pia Woodley of the Florida Veterans Foundation and Joe Marino of Veterans Florida. Dr. Woodley outlined the foundation’s dental initiatives, emergency assistance, transportation support, benefits guide distribution, new programs for state veterans’ homes and community grants, and recent audits with no findings. Marino described Veterans Florida’s SkillBridge, entrepreneur, and workforce programs, including outreach and federal partnerships, and noted legislative priorities to allow stipends for training at UF IFAS AGVets facilities and to rename a program in statute for clarity. The meeting concluded with no further business and adjournment.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:02:11.760><c> in</c><00:02:11.920><c> that</c> have 53,000 job opening in in that have 53,000
- in true uh case uh Glenn but true co in in true uh case uh Glenn but in<00:19:15.120><c> this</c><00
- </c> in this pilot we think this pilot um in in this pilot we think this pilot um in conjunction<00:20
- in in in their to help them create hope in in in their patients<01:25:47.000><c> and</c><01:25:47.119
- </c> decides to weigh in you're in the right decides to weigh in you're in the right place<01:27:59.600
Committee:
Senate Human Services
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Health Care Financing Jan 15th, 2026
Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
Transcript Highlights:
- They have closed networks, so if somebody here in Boston wanted to go over to Vanderbilt in Tennessee
- It's in Massachusetts law.
- This results in a decrease in cost per hour of 8% at the top of our range.
- In our Brockton office alone, our wait list is 57 families, up from 47 in October.
- Since 2015,... in our field.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Health Care Financing held a public hearing on a range of health care financing bills focused largely on autism services and kidney disease coverage. Committee chairs John Lawn and Cindy Friedman outlined hearing procedures and noted that written testimony would continue to be accepted until each bill is acted upon. They said the day’s bills addressed affordability and access to behavioral health services, provider reimbursement, Medicare coverage for vulnerable patients, and MassHealth eligibility asset exemptions.
A major portion of the hearing concerned House Bill 4623, which would recognize board-certified assistant behavior analysts (BCABAs) in the MassHealth reimbursement framework to help address long wait lists for autism spectrum disorder services. Representative Lisa Field and several providers testified that Massachusetts families face long delays for ABA services and that adding BCABAs would expand workforce capacity, reduce costs, and improve access. Wakely actuary Annie Tasman Ewing said a three-tier model could reduce MassHealth costs by up to 6% annually, while Dr. Sandra Beaton and others described severe wait lists and said the bill would allow more families to be served sooner.
The committee also heard extensive testimony on House Bill 4425 and Senate Bill 2737, which would allow people under 65 with end-stage renal disease to purchase Medigap coverage. Representative Stanley, Senator Gomez, and advocates from the American Kidney Fund and Dialysis Patient Citizens argued that current law unfairly excludes these patients, leaves them with high out-of-pocket costs, and can delay transplant eligibility because many centers require secondary insurance. Testifiers said the change would help about 846 residents, could cost insurers only a small premium increase, and might reduce Medicaid spending by avoiding asset spend-downs. Committee members asked questions about the existing statutory carve-out and the practical effects on transplant access.
The hearing also included testimony on House Bill 4353 and Senate Bill 2587, which would require regular Medicaid rate reviews for ABA services. Providers and clinicians said current MassHealth rates no longer reflect the cost of delivering care, especially with new 2026 policy requirements, workforce shortages, and accreditation obligations. They emphasized that the bills would not mandate a rate increase but would create a data-driven, transparent review process. At the end of the hearing, the chairs thanked participants, invited additional written testimony, and the committee voted unanimously to adjourn the hearing.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Public Health and Welfare - Room 216, 3 March, 2026; 3:00 PM
Public Health and Welfare
Transcript Highlights:
- What this bill is doing is trying to set up a process of transparency and fairness in how those funds
- We're just trying to make sure they're administered in a fair and transparent process.
- </c> administered in a fair and transparent administered in a fair and transparent process.<00:26:18.640
- And they also talk about—I want to be fair, I missed this—in section 5, it’s not totally new language
- And there's a fair reimbursement and there's protections to maintain a nation-wide access in underserved
Committee:
Joint Public Health and Welfare