Video & Transcript : 'fairness in mitigation' :
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session Apr 30th, 2026
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The Senate will be in a brief recess. The Senate will be in a brief recess.
- Bonfanti, in 1970. Dorothy and Mike shared a marriage rooted in devotion, humor, and resilience.
- All further amendments in the third degree to such amendment shall be in order.
- Three in the affirmative. Those opposed, please rise to be counted. One in opposition.
- Three members having voted in the affirmative and one member having voted in the negative, the order
Summary:
The Senate took up several bills on final passage and enacted measures including retirement benefits for a former Attleboro firefighter, maintenance of private roads in Gloucester, expansion of a local board of health, and amendments to the Middleton town charter. It also adopted a series of Eagle Scout congratulatory resolutions and advanced a bill allowing Somerset to prohibit water fluoridation, a Fairhaven charter bill amended on the floor, a Boston easements/takings measure consolidated with a Senate bill, and local bills for Lancaster and Orange. The Senate additionally ordered to third reading and engrossment a bill concerning Dedham-Westwood Water District employees.
The chamber approved extensions of reporting deadlines for the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development and the Committee on Transportation, after members asked how many bills were covered and the deadlines involved. The Labor extension covered 13 bills until July 30, and the Transportation extension covered 11 bills until July 31, 2026. The Senate also suspended rules to advance two public service committee reports establishing sick leave banks for Greg Pinkerton of the Department of Correction and Stephanie Rivera of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office.
A motion was adopted for the Senate to adjourn in memory of Dorothy Bonfante, with a brief tribute read into the record describing her family, community involvement, and ties to Peabody and Salem. Later, the Committee on Ways and Means reported that House No. 5316, a bill titled to promote rule of law, oversight, trust, and equal constitutional treatment, ought to pass with a new text amendment. The Senate adopted a special order setting the bill for second reading on May 7, 2026, with filing deadlines and procedures for amendments, then suspended the rules and adopted the order by standing vote. The Senate finally adopted an order to meet again on Monday at 11 a.m. and adjourned.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- on the subject and in just one instance<00:06:41.360><c> in</c> instance in instance in Portsmouth<00
- c> deductions</c> owes uh in in withholdings or deductions owes uh in in withholdings or deductions or
- vain in a post-COVID era where one in three employees in a typical office setting now work entirely
- vain in a post-COVID era where one in three employees in a typical office setting now work entirely
- c> advances with either in this act or in advances with either in this act or in other<01:35:09.360><
Committee:
Senate Commerce
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- In 2005, that county received $800,000 in CPA.
- in in in 2020 like do you have it okay in in in 2020 um um um there's<00:45:27.960><c> a</c><00:45:28.119
- would</c> partner in in governance we would partner in in governance we would absolutely<00:48:40.760
- in an apartment in developers lived in an apartment in Crystal<01:07:45.520><c> at</c><01:07:45.640><
- It was in St.
Committee:
House Taxes
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:14:04.079><c> in</c> Dakota or independent pharmacists in Dakota or independent pharmacists in
- are worker classification ties in because it all fits in there together.
- are worker classification ties in because it all fits in there together.
- are, worker classification ties in because it all fits in there together.
- </c><00:56:17.119><c> in</c><00:56:17.440><c> the</c> this consolidation happening in in the this consolidation
Committee:
Senate Labor
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c> requirement in order to participate in requirement in order to participate in the<00:23:48.240><
- in gymnasiums or in multiple classrooms in gymnasiums or in theaters<00:26:07.600><c> um</c><00:26:08.520
- ><c> place</c><01:08:36.560><c> in</c><01:08:36.880><c> 2018</c> change that you all put in place in
- </c><01:13:43.920><c> uh</c> perform better in tests and in school uh perform better in tests and in
- > a</c> in my late 40s in order to attain a in my late 40s in order to attain a master's<01:23:46.639
Committee:
House Education Policy
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs (02/26/2025)
Health, Human Services & Elderly Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- It's not about punishing success; it's about ensuring fairness in a system that should put patients first
- </c> about ensuring fairness in a system that about ensuring fairness in a system that should<02:05:13.520
- It's kind of implied in the findings in the resolution.
- in</c><02:18:28.399><c> in</c><02:18:28.479><c> the</c> of implied in in the findings in in the of implied
- in in the findings in in the resolution<02:18:29.800><c> so</c><02:18:30.000><c> I'm</c><02:18:30.160
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 53 (3-25-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- in this state in seem to forget that in this state in rural<00:34:18.240><c> parts</c><00:34:18.560>
- </c> citizen in this state. citizen in this state.
- in my area, in some areas, but I believe in my area, in the<01:11:43.440><c> rural</c><01:11:43.720>
- And it's not fair. It's not fair to our teachers.
- </c> families in need. families in need.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Yes, in in our headquarters. if I may.
- </c> in the warehouse right now in the plate in the warehouse right now in the plate room.<00:31:14.960
- Um, so on in the in the uh please.
- /c><00:48:52.800><c> the</c> companies come in and use them in the companies come in and use them in
- </c> coming in. coming in.
Committee:
Senate Capital Budget
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- I was born and raised in Ammon, Idaho.
- While I was in law school, well, let me back up.
- I think the idea is just to have more fairness and to be non-biased in the situation.
- We have a process in a streamlined fashion that is probably the most efficient that I've seen in the
- have for public land here in Idaho.
Committee:
Senate State Affairs
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- 1972. ...because the original statutory authority was passed in 1972 but was repealed in 1985.
- Thank you. of the rule because the original statutory authority was passed in 1972 but was repealed in
- waving in support.
- So in the short-range period of time, Senator Mayfield helped out In the short-range period of time,
- But with this bill, she provides a solution that answers this question in a fair and appropriate way
Committee:
Senate Finance and Tax
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee Jan 14th, 2026
Revenue and Taxation
Transcript Highlights:
- Are there any witnesses in the audience that wish to come up in support of the bill?
- Any other witnesses in the audience wish to stand up in support?
- Any other witnesses in support?
- Any other witnesses in support? Seeing none, are there any witnesses in opposition?
- Any other witnesses in support? Seeing none, are there any witnesses in opposition?
Committee:
Senate Revenue and Taxation
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Wednesday, we're going to get a breakdown of how everybody is, you know, fairness in taking cuts.
- </c><01:46:44.960><c> in</c><01:46:45.199><c> in</c><01:46:45.679><c> taking</c> is, you know, fairness
- in in taking is, you know, fairness in in taking cuts.<01:46:46.480><c> So,</c><01:46:47.119><c> let's
- I would like us to keep that mentality that we are more than fair-share players in this table, and I
- </c><02:32:05.680><c> table</c><02:32:05.920><c> and</c><02:32:06.080><c> I</c> fair share players in
Committee:
Senate Human Services
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee Jan 14th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Any other witnesses in the audience wish to stand up in support?
- Any witnesses in support? Seeing none, are there any witnesses that wish to speak in opposition?
- Do you have any witnesses in support?
- Any other witnesses in support? Any witnesses in support?
- Any witnesses in support? Thank you for your brief presentation. Any witnesses in support?
Summary:
The committee heard several tax and local government measures. SB 288 would clarify Proposition 19 rules for inherited homes in probate so the one-year timeline to claim the property tax benefit starts when the home is legally transferred; it had support from the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and passed 5-0 to Appropriations as amended. SB 347 would reduce the state’s minimum annual tax on LLCs, LLPs, limited partnerships, S corporations, and C corporations from $800 to $600; it also passed 5-0 to Appropriations as amended. SB 762 would authorize the city of Hercules to ask voters to approve a local sales tax increase of up to 1% to support city services and infrastructure; it passed 4-1 to Local Government, with one no vote from Senator Valadares.
The committee also considered veteran property tax relief measures. SCA 4 would remove a constitutional restriction so eligible veterans could stack the homeowners’ exemption with the disabled veterans’ or veterans’ exemption, and SB 623 would make conforming statutory changes to implement that constitutional amendment. Both measures were supported by veterans’ organizations, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and county representatives, and both passed unanimously 5-0 to their next committees, with SCA 4 going to Elections and Constitutional Amendments and SB 623 going to Military and Veterans Affairs.
The consent calendar, including SB 575 by Senator Laird, was adopted 5-0 after technical amendments were accepted. The committee then lifted the call on SB 288 and confirmed its 5-0 vote. The meeting concluded after all listed items were acted on.
ID
Idaho 2026 Regular Session
Agenda Mar 4th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- It has to do with the county fair boards.
- They make claims against each other in court.
- We talk about that in this bill.
- Thank you for the very thorough explanation of what's in the bill and slide in here.
- This has been a little while in the making.
Summary:
The House Ways and Means Committee approved the minutes from February 25 and February 27, then considered and introduced several RS measures. Representative Manwaring presented RS-33619, a cleanup/replacement for a fast stablecoin proposal that clarifies the State Treasurer’s authority and removes references to the State Controller; it was introduced after a brief correction to the statement of purpose. Representative Skaug presented RS-33593, which would allow the attorney general or private parties to bring lawsuits over secret social transitioning of children without parental knowledge; the motion passed, with Representatives Rubel, Birch, and Church recorded as nays. Representative Raymond’s RS-33581, dealing with county fair boards and the population threshold that can make them advisory only, was also introduced.
Representative Scott presented RS-3355-5, a major overhaul of Idaho custody law from the child custody task force. The proposal would establish legislative findings on parenting rights, create a presumption of substantially equal parenting time, require evidentiary hearings before restrictions in contested cases, set limits on temporary and ex parte custody orders, require restoration plans, protect parental access to records, tighten standards for supervised visitation, and limit court-ordered professionals to advisory roles. Members asked about judicial feedback and evidentiary standards; Scott said the bill had been discussed with judges, the Supreme Court, lawyers, prosecutors, parents, and law enforcement, and that some questions would be answered later. The motion to introduce passed.
The committee also introduced RS 33590, a rules-related resolution for the Department of Commerce and Division of Veterans Services, and then shifted to Representative Ehlers’ measures. RS 33598 would remove a 50-cent fee from standard license plates tied to the Idaho Heritage Trust Fund and create a new America 250 specialty plate. RS 33607 would implement a task force recommendation by moving regulatory duties from agricultural commissions to the State Department of Agriculture, including the Honey Commission. Both were introduced, and the committee adjourned after noting more RS items may be coming.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- And this we pray for in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
- Members, please join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance. Members, please join me in the pledge.
- Representative Call it in. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Dr.
- I ask that I might introduce guests in the gallery. Please proceed. Thank you.
- not be read and will be entered in the journal.
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Local and County Government REVISED Mar 3rd, 2026
Local and County Government
Transcript Highlights:
- In the minute, it says that the contract shall be awarded in a public meeting, and I'm just wondering
- My experience, maybe in a little bit different bid process, My experience, maybe in a little bit different
- If you continue to read in that section, it says such limit shall not exceed the fair and reasonable
- exactly OMES’s language in their title.
- They don’t have any say in that.
Committee:
Senate Local and County Government
Keywords:
municipal finance, audit exemption, biennial reporting, local government, transparency, county purchasing, purchase card, government accountability, emergency expenditures
Summary:
The Senate Local and County Government Committee heard two bills. Senate Bill 2135, as amended, would let county purchasing agents obtain purchase cards through a local bank instead of only through the current state program, while keeping existing competitive-bidding and other guardrails. Senator Reinhart said the amendment was developed with the State Auditor’s Office to add protections, and committee questions focused on sealed bids, public award of contracts, spending limits, and how the bill aligns with current state P-card rules. The amendment was adopted by voice vote, and the bill then advanced on a 10-0 roll call vote.
The committee also considered Senate Bill 2130, a constituent-request bill aimed at helping very small towns qualify for grants by easing pre-grant audit requirements. Senator Murdoch explained that towns of 500 people or fewer with $50,000 or less in total funds would be exempt from having to obtain an audit before applying for a grant, though customary audits would still apply otherwise. Members discussed whether the bill could weaken fiscal oversight, whether other audit requirements would still apply, and whether agreed-upon procedures engagements might be a cheaper alternative. The chair and several members supported the measure as a way to help struggling rural communities, and the bill advanced on a 9-1 roll call vote.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- That's the biggest surprise in the room today.
- It'd be really hard to use 200% in reality as possible.
- The chair asked whether that is fair enough.
- But do we have here an opportunity to treat the water in such a way that it's better in the long term
- And again, you know, we lead the world in technology in the oil and gas industry, and we're going to
Committee:
House Energy
Keywords:
environmental protection, water quality, aluminum, Department of Environmental Quality, EPA standards, groundwater conservation, water rights, permit allocation, metering, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, liquefied petroleum gas, safety regulation, LP-Gas Board, inspections, accident investigations, rural water service, district organization, emergency legislation, Oklahoma, water management
Summary:
The House Energy Committee met for its second scheduled meeting and announced it would need to meet again the following week because of bill reassignments and new agenda items. The committee first considered House Bill 2976, which requires the Department of Environmental Quality to promulgate water quality criteria rules for aluminum. An amendment was adopted to extend the rulemaking deadline to December 31, 2027, to allow time for an OU study on aluminum in water to be completed. The bill then passed 9-0.
The committee next heard House Bill 4459, which would create a five-year averaging option for certain water users, mainly irrigators, allowing flexibility in annual use while requiring measurement and reporting over the five-year period. Members questioned whether the bill could encourage excessive use during drought years and whether it would improve reporting accuracy; the author said he was open to discussing a possible reduction from 200% to 150% and emphasized long-term aquifer conservation. HB 4459 was reported out due pass. House Bill 3142, described as a revised version of a bill vetoed last year, also passed unanimously after the author said it addressed the governor’s veto concerns.
The committee then advanced House Bill 4316, which updates outdated language related to rural water districts and passed 11-0. House Bill 4338, the so-called Brine Act, was adopted with a PCS and would allow wastewater or produced water to be used in ways that could expand Oklahoma’s iodine production industry; the author said it would create value from material now disposed of and would not change disposal rules. Members asked about treatment and environmental safeguards, and the author said the bill only recognizes the activity as legal and does not mandate it. HB 4338 passed 11-0. Finally, House Bill 4230, which expands the ability to use qualified outside suppliers for training and technical assistance, passed 11-0 after brief questioning about who those suppliers might be.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- defining it in this bill.
- Members, this has to do with the pay raise that was passed in 2023.
- Members, this has to do with the pay raise that was passed in 2023.
- I thought I had long arms until I got in this building.
- Chair, it sounds like this is still a work in progress.
Committee:
Senate Appropriations
Keywords:
longevity pay, state employees, Oklahoma government, salary increase, emergency declaration, capital planning, funding allocation, state budget, infrastructure, emergency measures, income tax credit, qualified project, economic development, infrastructure funding, small population areas, school employees, teachers, support personnel, support employees, public schools
Summary:
The Senate Appropriations Committee met with a quorum and considered a series of bills, most of them receiving unanimous or near-unanimous support. Senate Bill 169 would increase the annual longevity payment award for state employees by 50% across all service years and passed 17-1. Senate Bill 1991, described as a cleanup bill for the Ocamp Fund, passed 19-0. Senate Bill 1992, which defines “strategic financing partner” under the SIDE Act for Department of Commerce projects, passed 20-0.
The committee also approved Senate Bill 1204, as amended, to provide Oklahoma teachers and school employees three days of bereavement leave after the death of a spouse or child, including a miscarriage; the amendment specified funding from the public school paid maternity leave revolving fund. Senate Bill 1339 passed to codify continued funding for off-the-formula schools and allow the State Department of Education to access funds to cover the 2023 teacher pay raise for those schools. Senate Bill 182 passed to allow certain CLEET-certified law enforcement officers and resident care specialists to join the OPERS hazardous duty retirement plan.
Additional measures approved included Senate Bill 1847, allowing certain Advantage Waiver Medicaid recipients diagnosed with cognitive impairment to remain in assisted living and age in place; Senate Bill 1360, creating a three-year pilot program placing math instructional teams in the lowest-performing districts; and Senate Bill 1346, as amended, directing the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to establish a water and wastewater infrastructure investment program after removing an appropriation section. Several questions focused on funding sources, eligibility, and population-based allocation formulas, but no bills were rejected. Senate Bills 1427 and 1566 were laid over to go directly to the floor with no fiscal impact, and the committee adjourned after announcing it would meet again the following Wednesday.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services (02/11/2025)
Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><01:36:34.600><c> licenses</c> go back in in the uh nursing licenses go back in in the uh nursing
- He concluded by asking the committee to consider fairness in the contractual relationships between the
- He concluded by asking the committee to consider fairness in the contractual relationships between the
- </c><02:12:35.119><c> in</c><02:12:35.320><c> the</c><02:12:35.520><c> contractual</c> that fairness
- in the contractual that fairness in the contractual relationships<02:12:37.040><c> between</c><02:12:
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration Mar 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- But, in fairness, Gabe has a very difficult story.
- So, in Gabe, and I'm never going to speak for Gabe's lived experience, but in fairness to the Department
- I'm set to get home in September. I'm sure in my plans to stay in the area.
- We had, in 2014 in Norfolk, created a reentry fair in the gym, right?
- I think there's a reentry fair coming up in a few months from now.
Summary:
The Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration met to approve prior minutes and then heard extensive testimony focused on reentry, programming, and the differences between Department of Correction facilities and county sheriff programs. Much of the testimony came from incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people describing how county facilities offered education, treatment, work release, identification documents, housing help, and reentry planning that they said were often unavailable or harder to access in state DOC settings. Several witnesses emphasized that these programs helped them obtain sobriety, employment, family reunification, and parole readiness, while others said they needed more time, mentoring, or transitional support before release to make the most of those services.
Witnesses from Hampshire, Barnstable, Hampden, and Franklin counties described specific programs such as high school/GED completion, college courses, culinary arts, vocational training, recovery groups, therapeutic treatment, and community-based reentry centers. Many said staff treated them with dignity and that the facilities’ culture encouraged accountability and personal change. A few witnesses also noted that some programs were not a fit for their needs, especially for people without substance-use issues or for those whose mental health needs were not adequately addressed. One Barnstable witness said she returned to custody within 48 hours of release because she was not mentally prepared for reentry, and another from Framingham said mental health support was insufficient and visitation restrictions worsened her experience.
Commissioners asked follow-up questions about DOC access to programming, classification barriers, reentry preparation, and visitation policies. Several witnesses said DOC programming was limited by sentence length, classification status, or program waitlists, and that some people were steered into programs that did not match their needs. A number of commissioners and the sheriff present responded by stressing the importance of wraparound services, individualized planning, and hiring formerly incarcerated staff. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving testimony.