Video & Transcript Research : 'acceptance'

Page 47 of 445
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I accept committee amendments outlined on pages six and seven.
  • And did I hear you say you're going to accept the committee amendments? Yes.
  • I'd like to start by saying that I accept the committee amendments.
  • The committee amendments have been accepted and feel free to make a closing statement.
  • Do you have, did you say you're accepting the committee amendments? Yes. Okay, great.
Summary: The committee heard several housing bills, with the longest discussion focused on SB 79, which would allow more housing near high-capacity transit stops and on transit agency-owned land. The author and supporters argued it would address California’s housing shortage, reduce vehicle miles traveled, and strengthen transit systems by putting more residents near rail and rapid transit. Supporters included housing advocates, local officials, environmental groups, and transit-oriented development organizations. Opponents, including many cities, the League of California Cities, and some tenant and legal advocacy groups, raised concerns about affordability requirements, displacement, demolition protections, local control, and the bill’s interaction with existing local planning efforts. The committee discussed amendments to strengthen anti-displacement protections, minimum density, affordability standards, and a local flexibility alternative, and SB 79 was moved out on a due-pass-as-amended vote of 8-1, with one member not voting. The committee then took up SB 21, which would amend the Housing Crisis Act to allow limited unit reductions when converting deed-restricted SRO buildings into larger, more livable affordable units with private bathrooms, kitchens, and supportive services. The author and nonprofit housing providers said many SRO buildings are financially unsustainable and that the bill would preserve deeply affordable housing while improving conditions for residents. There was no organized opposition testimony at the hearing, though one business property group registered opposition. Members expressed support for the preservation-focused approach, and SB 21 was approved on an 8-0 vote and sent to the Assembly Committee on Local Government. Next, SB 92 was heard, a measure to close a density bonus loophole by limiting how much additional commercial floor area a project can receive and preventing the law from being used to justify very large nonresidential projects with only minimal affordable housing. The author cited a San Diego project as an example of the problem, and the City of San Diego supported the bill as a reasonable fix. Several labor and housing groups also supported it, while no formal opposition witnesses testified. The committee accepted amendments, members praised the effort to curb abuse while preserving feasibility, and SB 92 passed on a 7-0 vote. Finally, the committee began hearing SB 522, which would extend just-cause eviction protections to units rebuilt after disaster if they had previously been covered by the Tenant Protection Act. The author and the Los Angeles City Attorney said the bill would help preserve rental housing in disaster-affected communities, especially after the Pacific Palisades fires, and would not create new rent control. Opponents, including apartment, realtor, and property owner groups, argued it would add burdens to rebuilding and could discourage reconstruction. Members raised questions about whether existing law already protects returning tenants and whether the bill was necessary, and the hearing continued into committee discussion.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • I'll start by accepting the committee amendments.
  • And I will be accepting the committee amendments today. I am incredibly proud.
  • I'm pleased to accept the committee's amendments.
  • We will accept the amendments at 12 acres that we agreed upon.
  • We are accepting those amendments.
Summary: The committee heard several climate, environmental, and housing bills. AB 1425, dealing with pit dewatering near the San Joaquin River Parkway, drew extensive testimony. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect the river, groundwater, floodplain conditions, tribal and cultural resources, and public access from a proposed mining project near the river. Opponents, including Cemex, labor representatives, and industry groups, said the bill would bypass the CEQA process before it was complete, threaten jobs, and create uncertainty for an existing operation. Members questioned both sides about hydrology, blasting, dewatering, and the adequacy of the ongoing environmental review. The bill was moved, but several members expressed concern about preempting CEQA and some did not vote or voted no. AB 881, which would allow California to move forward with carbon capture and sequestration pipelines, was presented as a way to advance state climate goals and capture federal funding. Supporters, including SMUD, labor, and industry groups, said the bill would help deploy carbon capture safely and preserve jobs. Environmental justice opponents supported stronger safety direction and warned that CO2 pipelines pose serious risks and that the state should not move ahead without clearer standards. The bill received a due-pass recommendation to Appropriations. AB 1207, on the cap-and-trade allowance price ceiling and the social cost of carbon, was presented as a science-based update to California’s climate policy. The author and EDF said the bill would keep the program aligned with current economic and climate data and protect it from federal political interference. It received broad support and a due-pass recommendation. AB 1106, creating a coordinated network of air quality incident response centers, was also approved after testimony about wildfire smoke, toxic emissions, and the need for better real-time monitoring during disasters. AB 28, the Landfill Fire Safety Act, focused on the Chiquita Canyon landfill fire and related health impacts in Castaic and Val Verde; residents described serious illnesses and contamination concerns, while landfill and county representatives warned about costs and asked for more study. The committee nonetheless advanced the bill with a due-pass recommendation. The committee also heard AB 357, which would speed Coastal Commission review of student and faculty housing projects, with supporters citing student homelessness and opponents urging caution but acknowledging the need for more housing; the bill was presented and discussed, with the committee emphasizing the need to balance housing production and coastal oversight.
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Senate Session Apr 3rd, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It is acceptable to Senator Creighton. Is there objection?
  • It is acceptable to Senator Creighton. Is there objection?
  • It’s acceptable to all. Members, I’ve been working closely with Senator West on this.
  • It’s acceptable to Senator Creighton. Is there objection?
  • Senate Bill 2494 by Creighton, relating to the acceptance of a voter, to State Affairs.
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation, and adopted the previous day’s journal. Members then adopted Senate Resolution 358 honoring the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on its 10th anniversary, with remarks highlighting UTRGV’s growth, degree production, research expansion, medical school, and role in serving the Rio Grande Valley and South Texas. The chamber also recognized the doctor of the day and adopted additional resolutions, including one for Denton County Days at the Capitol and another recognizing Texas HBCU Day. The Senate gave extensive recognition to outgoing Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp through Senate Resolution 368. Senators from both parties praised his long public career, leadership of the A&M System, support for regional universities, and bipartisan approach. The resolution was adopted after multiple members added their names. The chamber also heard from advocates with the Texas Streets Coalition, and received gubernatorial nominations for the State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. On legislation, the Senate passed several major bills. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 27, relating to rights and support for public school educators, was debated and amended to address teacher vacancies, bilingual certification testing, paid leave options, classroom removals, and appeal rights, then passed unanimously. Senate Joint Resolution 12, proposing a constitutional amendment on parents’ right to direct a child’s education, advanced on a 22-9 vote. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1741, aimed at preventing foreign influence and intellectual property theft at public institutions of higher education, passed unanimously. Committee Substitute Senate Bill 29, the business entities bill, also passed after debate over corporate governance and shareholder protections. Senate Bill 857, authorizing law enforcement to tow certain vehicles driven by unlicensed or uninsured drivers, passed despite some concern about towing abuses during disasters. The Senate also took up Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1536 on dementia and Alzheimer’s training for certain guardians, but the transcript ends as that bill is being laid out.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - 03/12/25

Judiciary and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm asking you today to say we will not accept that. inexplicably<00:11:06.760> said<00:11:07.079
  • I'm asking you today to say we<00:12:15.880> will<00:12:16.120> not<00:12:16.440> accept
  • we will not accept we will not accept that<00:12:18.639> whatever<00:12:19.000> you
  • It’s a good time to say we will not accept that.
  • it's good time to say we will not accept it's good time to say we will not accept that<00:48:06.559
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • Campbell County and that also accepts Campbell County and that also accepts the<00:02:27.239> lowrisk
  • "Private psychiatric hospitals are not required to accept DJJ youth and routinely refuse to accept or
  • DJJ youth and routinely refuse to accept or prematurely discharge these youth because of their violent
  • We have sent youth out of state most recently that would accept violent offenders.
  • get these kids assessed and and accepted get these kids assessed and and accepted and<00:36:08.839
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The committee heard an overview from Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Randy White on the state’s juvenile detention network and several facility projects. He identified the currently operating detention centers as Boyd County for females, Breathitt County for low-risk males, Fayette County for high-risk males, Adair County for high-risk youth from Jefferson and surrounding counties, Warren County for high-risk males, and McCracken County for low-risk males. Members asked about capacity and staffing; White said Boyd County houses 33 and is usually near full, Breathitt County is about half full, Fayette County runs about 80-90% full, Campbell County’s operational limit is about 25 due to staffing, Adair County can hold 60 and has hit capacity several times this year, Warren County holds 43 and usually runs near capacity, and McCracken County holds 43 and is not currently full. He said staffing is generally harder in higher-risk facilities and in metropolitan areas because of wages and housing costs. White then updated the committee on the Louisville Detention Center downtown renovation and the Lyon facility project. For the Louisville downtown facility, he said schematic design and design development are complete, construction documents are expected by late February or early March, bids are anticipated in April, and completion is projected for March 2027. He explained the delay is due to extensive renovation work needed to bring the building up to current building, life-safety, ACA, and PREA standards, including security, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, food service, and roof work. The project is designed for 64 beds for high-risk Jefferson County boys, with the facility currently vacant and those youth being housed in Adair County and Campbell County. For the Lyon project, he said the contract was issued November 21, 2024, demolition is underway, completion is expected June 14, 2026, and the facility will have 34 beds in four pods for low-risk offenders; he said the project appears to be on time and on budget within the $4.5 million authorization. The committee also discussed the medical services contract. DJJ officials said they are reviewing whether to continue with the current state contract provider, Wellpath, or pursue an RFP, while retaining current merit staff and continuing oversight through four nurse program administrators. They said DJJ uses a state master agreement to staff nurses, APRNs, and the chief medical officer, and that the current contract is about $20 million per year. Members asked about Wellpath’s bankruptcy filing; officials said they were aware of it, asked questions, and were told it would not affect Kentucky service delivery or contracting, though they could not recall the bankruptcy type and offered to provide more detail later. They also said DJJ is working with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to become a Medicaid provider, and any future contractual partner will need to be a Medicaid provider. Finally, White described the proposed high-acuity juvenile mental health treatment facility. He said DJJ must accept court-ordered youth even when they have severe mental illness, but detention centers are not equipped to treat those youth and private psychiatric hospitals often refuse them or discharge them early. He argued that a dedicated secure treatment facility is needed for a small number of highly violent, high-need youth who require intensive psychiatric care and are disruptive in detention. The facility would provide behavioral and psychiatric treatment, reduce delays caused by lack of beds or outside placements, and serve youth determined by clinical assessment to need a secure treatment environment. No votes were taken during the discussion.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 03/17/26

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Currently, the program is accepting applications, but right now under the program, it is only dairy producers
  • Currently, we the program is accepting<00:13:32.800> applications,<00:13:33.680> but<00
  • :13:33.840> right<00:13:34.080> now accepting applications, but right now accepting applications
Keywords: 918, senate, all
Summary: The Senate convened, established a quorum, and proceeded through routine orders of business, including receipt of House messages and first and second readings of several bills. House File 3615, a cannabis-related bill, was received and referred to Rules and Administration for comparison with Senate File 3670. Senate Files 3957, 4072, 3956, 239, and 3955 received second reading, and the introduction calendars were given first reading and referred as indicated. During motions and resolutions, the Senate approved several committee re-referrals: SF 4075 was moved from Transportation to State and Local Government; SF 4177, a bill related to the Secretary of State, was moved from Commerce and Consumer Protection to State and Local Government; SF 4262 was moved from Taxes to State and Local Government; and SF 4418 was moved from Health and Human Services to Human Services. The chamber also adopted committee reports and designated special orders. The main special order considered was SF 3832, which would modify eligibility for the dairy assistance investment relief initiative program to allow dairy producers established since 2022 to enroll. The author explained the bill would help new dairy producers access an existing program with no new fiscal impact, and Senator Dames spoke in support. The Senate then gave SF 3832 third reading and passed it by a vote of 66-0, with its title agreed to. The session concluded with announcements, including invitations to a Metro Parks pizza event and St. Louis County Days, a reminder about legislative auditor evaluation topic suggestions, and a brief St. Patrick’s Day reflection by Senator Murphy before the Senate adjourned until March 18 at 11:00 a.m.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Meeting broadcasting through social media 3/12/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um it provides that they're not considered government records if public comments are accepted via the
  • 02:58.800> public<00:02:59.120> comments<00:02:59.440> are<00:02:59.680> accepted
  • records if public comments are accepted records if public comments are accepted via<00:03:00.319
Keywords: 1183, house
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

February 10, 2026 - 04:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • up but I will get you the list and it will be sent to your email so you have the list of what they accept
  • So just to provide clarity to ensure that those are still acceptable forms of addresses.
  • And Representative Eskamani, to the mailing address - PO Box that is acceptable for a mailing address
  • , but physical address would not be acceptable because then we're back to 100 people at any one if we
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • This motion will be denied in part and accepted in part.
  • denied<00:02:46.720> in<00:02:46.840> part<00:02:47.400> and<00:02:47.920> accepted
  • denied in part and accepted in part. denied in part and accepted in part.
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The commission met in open session to take action on several motions related to an adjudicatory hearing. It denied a motion to dismiss, granted a motion to quash, and granted in part a renewed motion to compel and for sanctions only to the extent it continued the hearing that had been scheduled for that day. Two motions in limine, one by Mr. Jenkins and one by Representative Grossberg’s attorney, were denied, with the chair noting that relevance issues would be decided during the hearing and that the focus should remain on the conduct and allegations at issue. The commission then set hearing dates for January 26 and February 2, with hearings to begin at 9:00 a.m. and conclude before the General Assembly reconvened. It also approved the financial report/budget for October. During discussion, members noted the need to keep the commission’s work moving despite legislative schedules and the importance of not pulling members away from General Assembly responsibilities. In other business, staff announced a current issues training/CLE event for January 7, the hiring of new general counsel Larissa Pletcher effective December 16, and the start of re-registration. The chair reported ongoing efforts to fill remaining commission vacancies through the Speaker’s and President’s offices, and members discussed a possible tentative special meeting on January 12 at noon if needed. The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn, which was approved.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

Senate - Health and Public Affairs Oct 1st, 2025

Senate Health & Public Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • The daycare center still accept the child? Mr.
  • Block, the exemptions will be there for that parent, and there's no reason a child care center can't accept
  • But there's nothing in this bill or in our experience that has schools or child care centers not accepting
  • forcing any vaccines on any children or adults as contract agreements in relation to employment or acceptance
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Elections Aug 25th, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • Without an excused absence from quorum breaking purposes, from accepting contributions larger than the
  • Just to be clear, this bill is about limiting the acceptance of campaign contributions and the expenditures
  • Chair Chairman Sheehan, can you walk me through the contribution the legislature can and cannot accept
  • Page 2, states that, um, a quorum breaker cannot accept contributions.
Bills: HB18
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Health Committee Feb 11th, 2025

Health

Transcript Highlights:
  • I know these words that I want to say is that since creation it has been universally accepted that God
  • A yes would accept the amendment. A no would deny the amendment. Okay, is there a motion to accept?
  • Okay, motion to accept? Is there a second? With the failure of second, the amendment dies.
Bills: HB45, HB79, SB79
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Committees' Committee Feb 2nd, 2026 at 10:53 am

Senate Committees' Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • We don't accept them all. We don't put them all together.
  • So we're on a motion to accept the staff motions for Jermaine: Any other questions or comments about
  • Seeing none, any opposition to the motion to accept the staff recommendations?
Keywords: 996, all
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • Representative McClure, I’m pleased to announce that the Senate accepts the House offer on criminal and
  • Senator Hooper, I’m pleased to announce that the House accepts the Senate’s offer on transportation,
  • Is there any public testimony on those two acceptances?
Summary: The Conference Committee on Appropriations met to exchange and accept several budget offers. The Senate accepted the House offer on criminal and civil justice, the justice budget, and related projects. The House accepted the Senate offer on transportation, tourism, and economic development, but with one change: it would remove $500,000 for the Historic Markland House restoration and redirect that amount to the City of Marathon Workforce Housing Project, bringing that project to $1.25 million. No public testimony was offered on these acceptances. The committee then heard explanations of Senate offers for pre-K-12 education and administered funds. For pre-K-12, the Senate proposal included a 1.59% overall increase in total funds per FTE, fully funded the new academic acceleration option supplement at current levels, added $101 million for teacher salary increases, and maintained current law for K-12 scholarship programs. For administered funds, the Senate offer included a 2% pay increase for all state employees with a $1,000 minimum, and a 10% pay increase for state law enforcement and firefighters, or 15% based on years of experience. The committee also received the public education capital outlay project funded list. There was no public testimony on the education offers, no further comments from members, and no votes were taken. The meeting adjourned, with notice that there would be no additional meetings that evening and that the next day’s meetings would not begin before noon.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
  • <01:39:07.280> the retirement system has been accepting the retirement system has been accepting
  • <01:55:58.080> uh the House is not willing to accept uh the House is not willing to accept
  • willing to accept to just sort<02:27:01.920> of<02:27:02.000> accept<02:27:02.319>
  • Um, I hope that that's something that'll be acceptable to the committee. Is there any discussion?
  • We have a not an acceptable alternative.
Keywords: 1189, house, all
Summary: The committee first adopted amendment 2026-2021S to correct a drafting issue in the budget language so that the $2.5 million appropriation for Medicaid per diem rate stabilization at county nursing homes can be spent during the biennium rather than lapsing at the end of the fiscal year. Senator Lang explained that the funds are matched with federal dollars for a total of $5 million and are intended to prevent rate reductions that could shift costs to county property taxpayers. The amendment was adopted unanimously by both chambers, and the committee proceeded on the bill as amended by the Senate. The main discussion then focused on HB 155 and a proposed amendment to the business enterprise tax. The House proposal would lower the BET rate in stages when combined business tax revenues exceed certain thresholds, while the Senate opposed an immediate rate reduction and argued that tax changes should be handled in a budget year. Senators emphasized that raising the filing threshold to $375,000 had already removed about 3,500 small businesses from filing requirements, and they preferred further relief through threshold changes rather than rate cuts. House members argued that the trigger-based reduction was a reasonable, tested mechanism and would provide future tax relief without taking effect unless revenues rose enough. Members debated whether the trigger could be distorted by one-time revenue spikes, such as the recent tax amnesty receipts and prior federal repatriation-related revenue, and Representative Sweeney said he was willing to adjust the effective date or carve out amnesty revenue. The committee did not reach agreement on the BET reduction, and the chair called a break and then continued the meeting later with a new proposal to delay the trigger’s effective date to January 1, 2028. Senator Lang rejected that version but offered a counterproposal to raise the filing threshold to $400,000, and the parties ultimately agreed to continue discussions and reconvene later. The meeting also took up HB 1102, concerning the research and development tax credit and state park fees. The House position was to support the R&D tax credit but remove the park-fee provisions, citing testimony from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources that it did not need the increase and concerns about discouraging tourism, especially at border parks. Supporters of the park-fee language argued that the department had not raised rates in years, could set its own rates, and should be able to charge nonresidents more while keeping New Hampshire residents’ fees lower. The discussion remained unresolved, with members debating the likely effect on tourism and fairness to residents versus the need for additional revenue.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on State and Local Government - Part 1 - 03/27/26

State and Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • <01:22:47.280> employment<01:22:47.880> with<01:22:48.000> the may not accept
  • employment with the may not accept employment with the employer<01:22:48.600> and<01:22:48.720
  • <01:26:14.000> legislators<01:26:14.840> and the public can't accept legislators and
  • by public and private entities, accepted by public and private entities, so<02:05:00.880> they
  • mail and accepts service of process<02:05:09.720> on<02:05:10.000> their<02:05:10.160>
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • They'd be doing a disservice to them if they accepted them. And then, I don't know.
  • They'd be doing a disservice to them if they accepted them.
  • And so we think that that number is acceptable.
  • So this is acceptable to us.
  • Yes, we would support different mechanisms, but this mechanism is acceptable to us.
Summary: The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened with a quorum, adopted its committee rules, and heard opening remarks from members introducing staff and outlining priorities for the session. Several senators emphasized support for public education, teacher pay and safety, parental choice, and the combined K-16 jurisdiction of the committee. The chair also reviewed hearing procedures, including public testimony registration and time limits. The main item was Senate Bill 2, the Texas Education Freedom Act, laid out by Chairman Creighton. He described the bill as an education savings account program intended to expand school choice, with a $200 million universal eligibility pool and an additional $800 million targeted to students with disabilities and lower-income families. He said the bill includes anti-fraud safeguards, criminal background checks for vendors, reporting requirements, data protections, and annual testing for participating students, while not imposing STAAR on private schools or homeschoolers. He also said the bill removes a prior hold-harmless provision for public schools and is separate from public school funding and teacher pay legislation. Members questioned the bill’s income threshold, lottery and priority structure, treatment of homeschoolers, microschools, charter schools, religious freedom protections, citizenship/lawful presence language, cybersecurity, open records, and disability-related issues, including whether 504 students and foster children should be included. Creighton said the bill is designed to prioritize former public school students with disabilities or lower incomes, while also allowing universal eligibility within the program’s first funding tier, and that the Comptroller would oversee vendor screening and cybersecurity rules. He said the bill does not direct curriculum or interfere with religious beliefs and that amendments may be offered later on citizenship and other issues. After member questions, the committee began invited testimony, starting with EdChoice representative Robert Inlow, who testified in support of SB 2 and cited national growth in school choice programs and studies he said show positive effects for students and public schools.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • The Senate is prepared to accept the House's offer with the exceptions of the following lines, which
  • We have also reviewed your offers over the past hour and are prepared to provide the issues we accept
  • For the back of the bill, the House accepts the Senate's offer except for the following lines on the
Summary: The Appropriations Conference Committee on Agriculture, Environment, General Government, State Administration, and IT met to reconcile differences between House and Senate budget offers, including the budget spreadsheet, proviso, implementing bill, and back-of-the-bill items. Members reviewed a large number of line items and project rows, with both chambers agreeing to many provisions while identifying specific lines to be bumped. The Senate accepted the House offer on most items but rejected numerous listed lines and certain projects; the House likewise accepted the Senate offer with exceptions on several implementing, proviso, and enterprise-related lines, including enterprise cybersecurity resiliency items. The committee also resolved differences on the back of the bill, with the House accepting the Senate offer except for several proviso spreadsheet lines, and the Senate concurring on those items to be bumped. After noting that the committee’s work at this level was complete, members exchanged thanks and praised the collaborative process. Senator Collins moved to allow staff to make technical and conforming adjustments related to the bump process, and the motion was adopted without objection. There was no public comment. Senator McLean then moved that the committee rise, and the meeting adjourned without objection.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Labor - 03/03/26

Labor

Transcript Highlights:
  • something, and employers who are truly providing something akin to an apprenticeship that would be accepted
  • something, and employers who are truly providing something akin to an apprenticeship that would be accepted
  • something, and employers who are truly providing something akin to an apprenticeship that would be accepted
  • something, and employers who are truly providing something akin to an apprenticeship that would be accepted
  • something, and employers who are truly providing something akin to an apprenticeship that would be accepted
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Cause of action for violations of civil rights created 2/24/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I guess my question to Representative Duran is if I accept his amendment, is that going to make it
  • I mean, this is a matter of will this bill be acceptable to you without this piece.
  • Long said, "I'm willing, in a gesture of hopeful good faith, to view it as a friendly amendment and accept
  • the second week of session and this was an early bill hearing schedule, but he would be happy to accept
  • <00:34:58.640> um accepting this state level liability. um accepting this state level liability
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee heard House File 3477, Representative Long’s “Universal Constitutional Remedies Act,” which would create a civil damages remedy for constitutional violations by government actors, including federal officials. Long and supporting testifiers argued the bill fills a gap in current law, noting that people can sue state and local officials under Section 1983 but generally lack a meaningful damages remedy against federal actors. Supporters said the bill would improve accountability, make harmed individuals whole, and is consistent with the Supremacy Clause and federal law. Public testimony included Dr. Roger Day, who said the bill was important to people harmed by “color of law” abuses and urged broad, inclusive language. Members then considered amendments. The A1 amendment, offered by Representative Duran, removed subdivision 2, which had required federal law enforcement partners entering agreements with Minnesota to agree to abide by the state and federal constitutions; the amendment was adopted. The A2 amendment, which would have added a six-year lookback and limited the bill to future causes of action, was debated at length and rejected. The A3 amendment, which would have required state agencies to absorb litigation costs, was also debated; House fiscal staff said a fiscal note was not complete and costs were uncertain, and the amendment was not adopted. In discussion after amendments, opponents argued the bill would conflict with federal supremacy, duplicate or interfere with existing federal remedies, and could create fiscal and operational burdens. Supporters responded that the bill is modeled on existing remedies for state and local officials and that federal accountability is currently inadequate. The bill, as amended by A1, was then moved toward the general register, with a roll call requested on the bill.