Transcript Highlights:

• evidence is collected, it should be handled consistently, promptly, and with the seriousness that survivors
• It should be handled consistently, promptly, and with the seriousness that survivors deserve.
• Through Act 122 of 2024, we created a statewide sexual assault evidence tracking system so survivors
• Each kit represents a survivor, an investigation, and the possibility of justice delayed.
• We owe survivors a system that is clear, accountable, and built around justice rather than delay.

Keywords: Scheduler, 972, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• assault nurse examiners, thereby increasing access and care and integrity of evidence collection for survivors
• This bill is intended to improve the framework in the state of Louisiana for any survivor of sexual assault
• applying that model at the state level to make sure that we, as a state, are responsive to the needs of survivors
• It falls within confidential information, medical records of a sexual assault survivor.
• There's pieces of that evidence collection that, again, given the protection surrounding that survivor

Committee: House House and Governmental Affairs

Summary: The committee first deferred Senate Bill 49, which would remove the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from the list of offices subject to closed party primary elections, after the sponsor said additional amendments were being prepared. It then took up House Bill 1247, which creates a statewide sexual assault nurse examiner coordinator within the Department of Justice to improve access, evidence collection, and coordination for sexual assault survivors. Members adopted a committee amendment package that clarified the coordinating structure, geographic response considerations, reimbursement language, and related public records issues, and the bill was reported favorably as amended with support from health care and law enforcement-related groups. House Bill 1245, also dealing with public records, was amended to protect certain personal identifying information in criminal history records of criminal justice agency employees who serve as witnesses in criminal proceedings. The discussion focused on limiting release of Social Security numbers, home addresses, and dates of birth while preserving disclosure required for court proceedings and impeachment-related purposes. The committee adopted a further amendment narrowing the protection to those PII items in records held by the clerk of court, and the bill was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 1011, allowing jurors to donate per diem compensation to CASA, and House Bill 1186, which standardizes construction code and inspector licensing records while protecting inspectors’ personal information, were also reported favorably. Senate Bill 425, which implements the constitutional mandate for removal by suit of certain elected officials for felony conviction, malfeasance, or gross misconduct, drew the most extended debate. Supporters said it creates a civil process to address serious misconduct when criminal prosecution is unavailable or incomplete, while opponents warned it could be abused for political targeting, duplicate existing remedies, and rely on vague standards. After amendments clarifying the process and standards, the committee voted 10-5 to report the bill favorably as amended. The committee also adopted amendments and reported favorably House Bill 1057, extending absentee-by-mail eligibility for overseas service members from one year to two years, and began discussion of House Bill 709, which would create a rulemaking notification system, a 10-year sunset for certain rules, and an Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the governor’s office.

Transcript Highlights:

• As we talked, my mother receives survivor benefits, and I was the beneficiary of Chapter 35 while I was
• if the veteran happens to be deceased, that veteran's surviving spouse or surviving eldest living survivor
• Early in your presentation, you mentioned the surviving spouse or the eldest living survivor.
• Surviving spouse or the eldest living survivor, next of kin.
• Eldest living survivor would be next of kin.

Committee: House Veterans and Armed Forces

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first went into executive session, where it adopted a House Committee substitute combining House Bills 3078 and 2672 and voted the substitute do pass, with one no vote. It then separately voted House Bill 2362 and House Bill 2588 do pass, each by 16 ayes and one no. During the executive session, one member objected to the combined bill on constitutional equal-protection grounds, while another supported it as a benefit for veterans. In public hearing, Representative Stephanie Boykin presented House Bill 3280, which would create a Missouri specialty license plate for the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who previously qualified for a disabled veteran plate. She described it as a low-cost way to continue honoring a veteran’s service and family sacrifice. Committee members and a surviving spouse testified in strong support, emphasizing the recognition of spouses’ sacrifices and noting that similar plates exist in other states. No opposition was offered. The committee then heard House Bill 3029, sponsored by Representative Schulte, which would require disclosures and prohibit compensation for referrals in the business of advising or assisting with veterans’ benefits, with penalties for violations. Supporters, including a Missouri veterans service officer, argued the bill was needed to stop unaccredited “claim shark” companies from charging veterans for initial claims and using misleading social media advertising. Opponents, including a representative of Veterans Guardian and a VA-accredited attorney, argued the bill would restrict lawful private-sector assistance, reduce veterans’ choice, and should be narrowed to target bad actors while exempting accredited attorneys and referral arrangements. The hearing also included a presentation on the Missouri Veterans Recognition Program, which provides medals and certificates for veterans of major conflicts, and a presentation on MU Extension’s Veteran REEDS program, which uses literature and discussion to support veterans and first responders through community-based resilience work.

Transcript Highlights:

• Recently, I spoke with a survivor of domestic violence about her decision to decline assistance from
• I know for a lot of us, the impact on undocumented domestic violence survivors is one of our biggest
• I have worked with immigrant communities, including as a case manager for women who are survivors of
• With over a decade of experience representing immigrant survivors.
• This language would also silence immigrant communities, survivors of domestic violence, and workers who

Bills: HB1320 , HB2012 , HB2293 , HB2655 , HB3174 , HB4108 , HB4661 , HB4799 , HB5534 , HB5580

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Keywords: transportation, infrastructure, funding, state budget, public safety, child welfare, county boards, membership, local governance, public welfare, government service, social services, Texas Family Code, regulation, vendors, solicitors, roadside sales, county authority, Sweeny Hospital District, board of directors

Transcript Highlights:

• For the survivors of the gentleman Ms. Hicks, and I believe you said who is with us today.
• ..it is the public policy of the state to shift the losses when a wrongful death occurs from the survivors
• Trabulsy: ...enacted, in 1990 an expansion was made to the class of survivors entitled to recover noneconomic
• Subsection eight arbitrarily discriminates Travis Creighton: between classes of survivors.
• Most other states like Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Connecticut, New York, all of them don't allow survivors

Transcript Highlights:

• The first bill is S. 404, an act relative to supporting survivors of child sexual abuse.
• The first bill is S-404, an act relative supporting survivors of child sexual abuse.
• Adult survivors report lower quality of life, and nearly half are revictimized in adulthood.
• Senate Bill 404, an act relative to sporting survivors of child sexual abuse.
• When two survivors came forward with their story, the news hit me hard.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on 41 bills related to school climate and safety, with chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlining procedures and noting more than 125 witnesses. The first major topic was the “Study Act” on cell phones in schools and related social media restrictions (House 666/Senate 335). Secretary of Education Pat Tutwiler and Attorney General Andrea Campbell testified in strong support, arguing that bell-to-bell phone-free policies would improve student focus, reduce anxiety and distraction, and support mental health. Several legislators also supported the approach, though Representative Jeff Turco and Senator John Keenan emphasized narrower bills focused only on school-day phone restrictions rather than broader social media regulation. Senator John Velis likewise backed a comprehensive school-hours restriction, citing student distraction and mental health concerns. Representative Tarsky described successful implementation of a Yondr pouch system in a school where he served as principal, saying it improved engagement and reduced bullying and discipline issues. The committee then heard testimony on a bill to prohibit Native American mascots in public schools (Senate 312/House 575). Senator Joe Comerford, Brittany Wally, and Rhonda Anderson all urged passage, saying Native mascots are dehumanizing, harmful to Native youth, and inconsistent with civil rights and educational values. They described support from tribal nations and noted that many Massachusetts schools have already changed mascots, but some still resist. The hearing also included testimony on school start times (House 647/Senate 360), where middle school students Caroline Duffy and Emery Jarvis described exhaustion and survey data showing widespread sleep deprivation. Former educator Telia Jacobs, former principal Rep. Tarsky, and others argued that later start times would improve health, learning, and student well-being, while acknowledging transportation and scheduling challenges. Zoriana Petrosian, who helped write one of the bills as a student, said the state already has enough research to act now. Additional bills drew testimony on related school issues. Dr. Raul Fernandez supported a bill promoting racially integrated schools (Senate 324), citing a recent advisory council report showing large disparities in segregated schools and urging DESE to develop a statewide integration strategy. On safe firearm storage education (House 548/Senate 397), multiple witnesses from Grassroots for Gun Violence Prevention and school communities supported annual school-based education about secure storage, saying it would help prevent child access to unsecured firearms and build on local resolutions already adopted in some districts. The committee also heard testimony on bills to expand career and academic plans (House 533/Senate 438), with speakers saying more structured planning would help students make informed college and career choices. Later, testimony on child sexual abuse prevention and survivor support bills described the prevalence of abuse, the need for training in schools and youth-serving organizations, and the importance of extending compensation and prevention measures. Throughout the hearing, chairs repeatedly closed bills with no witnesses and moved the agenda forward, but no votes were taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• The responding officers continued to look for survivors and also the shooter.
• and I'm proud of wearing my menorah necklace, and my great-grandmother Eva, who is an Auschwitz survivor
• I want to repeat that Shana kind of shared that about her father's story and all across survivors.
• I’m the granddaughter of Holocaust survivor Martin Schiller, and in his honor have spent years studying
• I'm the daughter of a Holocaust survivor.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The meeting focused on the commission’s work addressing antisemitism in Massachusetts, including security, education, victim services, and legal responses. A major presentation came from former federal prosecutor Eric O’Sham, who described the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, the attack’s planning and execution, the 11 victims killed, the defendant’s white supremacist and antisemitic online activity, the federal prosecution, and the long aftermath for the victim community. Commissioners asked about prevention, radicalization online, security for houses of worship, and how to support victims; O’Sham emphasized the limits of law enforcement when speech is protected, the importance of public education, security grants, and victim-witness support. The commission also heard from Ariel Holman of Agudath Israel, who described a wide range of antisemitic incidents affecting Orthodox Jews, including assaults, threats, vandalism, school harassment, and zoning barriers, and urged expanded security personnel grants, mental health resources, kosher food access, and support for synagogue development. Other speakers included advocates and local officials who supported Holocaust education, the planned Boston Holocaust Museum, cemetery protection, and broader public education efforts, while some public commenters criticized the commission’s focus or raised concerns about definitions of antisemitism and free speech. The meeting concluded with approval of prior meeting minutes and the start of public comment, which was limited to three minutes per speaker due to time constraints.

Transcript Highlights:

• The scale of recovery is staggering, and two and three survivors are still displaced today.
• Megan Hinchliff-Garrig, Eaton fire survivor, here with the Dena Rise Up Coalition.
• And I’m asking that you remember wildfire survivors as you consider budget revisions.
• Megan Hinchliff-Garrig, Eaton fire survivor, here with the Dena Rise Up Coalition.
• And I’m asking that you remember wildfire survivors as you consider budget revisions.

Summary: The hearing focused on the governor’s May Revision proposals for transportation, natural resources, climate, and related programs, with the Department of Finance and the LAO presenting competing views on the state’s fiscal condition. Finance said the budget remains balanced over two years, with major climate-bond, water, parks, transportation, DMV, and agriculture proposals, while the LAO argued the state still has a structural deficit and should reject or defer many new discretionary spending items, preserve reserves, and be cautious about ongoing commitments. The LAO specifically questioned the timing and scale of new spending for programs such as Clean California, Healthy Rivers and Landscapes, and the Golden Gate Fields acquisition, and urged more clarity on future obligations and revenue scenarios, including for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. A major portion of the hearing was devoted to the Healthy Rivers and Landscapes proposal for Bay-Delta water quality implementation. Secretary Wade Crowfoot and Finance described it as an enforceable, science-based alternative to a more traditional regulatory approach, with the state’s $25 million request intended to support early implementation, monitoring, habitat restoration, and environmental flows. The LAO countered that the Water Board has not yet adopted the updated Bay-Delta plan, that the proposal may be premature, and that the Legislature should wait for more information on the state’s total funding commitment and the program’s long-term costs. Several members expressed support for the program as a way to reduce conflict and protect water reliability, while others echoed concerns about timing and fiscal exposure. The committee also examined the proposed $125 million Proposition 4 contribution toward acquiring the Golden Gate Fields property for a shoreline park and habitat project. State officials said the acquisition is a time-sensitive, once-in-a-generation opportunity, with an appraised value of $175 million and additional philanthropic and local funding expected to close the gap. Members questioned whether the project had gone through the usual competitive process, whether the site is the best use of scarce park bond dollars, and how public access, habitat, and disadvantaged-community priorities would be protected. The discussion ended without a vote, and the committee moved on to transportation items including Clean California litter abatement, the Games Route Network, homeless encampment coordinators, and DMV modernization and field office proposals, with LAO recommending rejection or delay on several of those requests as well.

Transcript Highlights:

• choose to share their stories or not, whether it takes days or decades, we honor and support every survivor
• Out of respect and admiration for the survivors who came forward and for every activist who has felt
• </c> every survivor. every survivor.
• who came forward and for every survivors who came forward and for every activist<00:11:22.480><c> who
• Trump's proposal proposed cuts threatened to take housing away from thousands of seniors, survivors of

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Veteran Affairs provides survivor benefits for the surviving spouse or children of
• Typically, survivors receive these funds at age 18 with no restrictions.
• Typically, survivors receive these funds at age 18 with no restrictions.
• On DCF to receive, deposit, conserve, and disperse the VA survivor benefits in full when the child turns
• Typically, survivors receive these funds at age 18 with no restrictions.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:24:44.159><c> from</c> heard from gun violence survivors, from heard from gun violence survivors
• And these families, these survivors, are not alone.
• And these families, these survivors, are not alone.
• , friends, survivors, first Family, friends, survivors, first responders,<02:56:45.920><c> and</c><02
• </c> survivors and families for decades. survivors and families for decades.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><05:24:41.120><c> of</c> the risk of retraumatizing survivors of the risk of retraumatizing survivors
• We must ensure that all our survivors are treated with dignity and care.
• We must ensure that all our survivors are treated with dignity and care.
• We must ensure that all our survivors are treated with dignity and care.
• We must ensure that all our survivors are treated with dignity and care.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, May 19, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm a victim survivor of grooming and sexual assaults by my high school band teacher when I was a student
• I'm a victim survivor<00:04:47.919><c> of</c><00:04:48.080><c> grooming</c><00:04:48.479><c> and</c><
• 00:04:48.800><c> sexual</c><00:04:49.120><c> assaults</c> survivor of grooming and sexual assaults survivor

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• [applause] I will say that as a breast cancer survivor, this is a very important day for me, and, um,
• 00:23:16.240><c> cancer</c> I will say that as a breast cancer I will say that as a breast cancer survivor
• 17.520><c> a</c><00:23:17.760><c> very</c><00:23:18.000><c> important</c><00:23:18.720><c> day</c> survivor
• , this is a very important day survivor, this is a very important day for<00:23:19.200><c> me</c><00:

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So this amendment is actually to be cited as Survivors of the Epstein Island Remembrance Day.
• So her original idea was to establish a Students and Survivor Grant program for students in school to
• victims of the Epstein Island were Floridians, I think it's appropriate to recognize those very brave survivors
• We never stop taking the moment to recognize those survivors who come to speak out.

Transcript Highlights:

• two outdated statutes, including the Career Readiness Course Task Force and the Vietnam Veterans Survivors
• two outdated statutes, including the Career Readiness Course Task Force and the Vietnam Veterans Survivors
• two outdated statutes, including the Career Readiness Course Task Force and the Vietnam Veterans Survivors
• I really want to thank the sponsor of this bill, especially for the Vietnam Veterans Survivors Grant.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Many of these survivors of the Southeast Asian conflict now call Minnesota home, and it is appropriate
• Many of these<00:28:53.120><c> survivors</c><00:28:53.600><c> of</c><00:28:53.760><c> the</c><00:28:54.000
• ><c> Southeast</c><00:28:54.480><c> Asian</c> these survivors of the Southeast Asian these survivors

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The report does not limit the rights of childhood sexual assault survivors.
• claims, brought under a law that greatly expanded the window and the circumstances under which its survivors
• I want to thank you for starting by acknowledging the survivors of these sexual assaults.
• fund it isn't just about ensuring you can pay the liability but it's also about ensuring that all survivors

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also, I want to thank the bill's sponsor, Paris Hilton, and all of the survivors associated with
• My name is Zoe Schreiber, a troubled teen industry survivor and advocate.
• On behalf of Alex, 1111 Media Impact, and survivor advocates across the state and beyond, thank you for
• On behalf of Alex 1111 media impact and survivor advocates across the state and beyond, thank you for
• Many survivors, as we just heard, carry it for many, many years: nightmares, PTSD, anxiety, and a deep

Summary: The hearing covered several child welfare, human services, tribal housing, child care, and long-term care bills. SB 1099 would clarify local governments’ authority to provide state or local public benefits to all residents under PRWORA; SB 1190 would regulate private youth transport services by requiring permits, background checks, training, and bans on blindfolds, hoods, restraints, and overnight pickups; SB 1322 would streamline tribal access to Community Care Expansion housing grants and better align the process with tribal sovereignty; SB 1109 would require an annual license renewal review for STRTPs with five or more Type A citations in a year; SB 1234 would require fentanyl testing in juvenile dependency cases when a court finds a risk of fentanyl use; SB 991 would require DSS to identify the specific type of abuse on its public licensing database; SB 1200 would redefine “infant” for family child care ratio purposes as under 18 months; and SB 1345 would strengthen foster youth rights regarding access to and dignified transport of personal belongings. The committee also approved a consent calendar including SB 534, SB 1410, and SB 1421. Testimony was largely in support of the measures, often from authors, advocates, county officials, and people with lived experience. Supporters of SB 1190 described traumatic youth transport practices and argued for basic safety standards. SB 1322 supporters said tribal grantees face unnecessary delays and collateral demands that conflict with sovereignty. SB 1109 drew support from county probation officers who cited repeated serious violations and public safety concerns at STRTPs, while the chair ultimately opposed the bill as duplicative of existing CDSS authority. SB 1234 drew emotional support from a grandparent who lost a child to fentanyl, but also opposition from the Drug Policy Alliance and a dependency attorney, who argued the bill was redundant, vague, and could create biased or unnecessary testing; amendments were accepted to narrow the standard. SB 991 supporters said the public needs more specific information about abuse findings, SB 1200 supporters said the change would expand infant care capacity and help working families, and SB 1345 supporters said foster youth deserve dignity rather than having belongings packed in trash bags. Votes were taken after quorum was established. SB 991, SB 1200, SB 1345, SB 1190, SB 1234, SB 1322, and SB 1099 were all reported out of committee, most on unanimous or near-unanimous votes; SB 1234 passed 6-0 as amended to Appropriations, and SB 1099 later had a vote change recorded, ending 5-1. SB 1109 did not advance after the motion failed for lack of a second, and it was held in committee. The committee then adjourned and transitioned into an oversight hearing reviewing the outcomes of AB 2247 (placement stability and notice protections for foster youth) and AB 2496, with presenters discussing how the earlier foster youth placement law has changed practice and the importance of dignity, notice, and youth voice in placement decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm also, I want to thank the bill's sponsor, Paris Hilton, and all of the survivors associated with
• My name is Zoe Schreiber, a troubled teen industry survivor and advocate.
• On behalf of Alex, 1111 Media Impact, and survivor advocates across the state and beyond, thank you for
• On behalf of Alex 1111 media impact and survivor advocates across the state and beyond, thank you for
• Many survivors, as we just heard, carry it for many, many years: nightmares, PTSD, anxiety, and a deep

Committee: House Human Services

Keywords: 988, house, all