Video & Transcript : 'African Americans' :
Page 53 of 500
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Judiciary Jan 27th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Then he will be followed by Caroline Geiser, Geyser—okay, thank you—with the American Tort Reform Association
- Geiser, Geyser—okay, thank you—with the American Tort Reform Association. Mr.
- I'm an attorney at Shook, Hardy, and Bacon, and I'm representing the American Tort Reform Association
- Becky, and again, forgive me if I mispronounce, I think it's Magdalino, Florida Association of the American
- American history and culture.
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee met and took up a series of bills, beginning with SB 620, which would require candidates for federal, state, county, district, judicial, and school board offices to disclose any citizenship in countries other than the United States. The bill was presented as a transparency measure, with one opponent waiving time, and it was reported favorably on an 8-0 vote.
The committee then heard SB 1396 on litigation financing consumer protection. Supporters from the Florida Justice Reform Institute, American Tort Reform Association, and U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform argued the bill would add transparency, limit funder control, and require disclosure of foreign entities involved in litigation funding. Opponents, including the Florida Justice Association, argued the bill would create strategic advantages for defendants and could affect discovery and settlement dynamics. The bill passed 7-2. The committee also approved SB 192, removing a $1,500 cap on patient funds chiropractors may hold in trust; SB 888, limiting indemnity and insurance requirements in design-professional contracts; CS/SB 332, creating a temporary closed-meeting exemption for pre-suit Burt Harris litigation strategy discussions; SB 820, requiring quarterly reporting on problem-solving courts; SB 1500, updating uncontested probate procedures; SB 1224, making fraudulent entry into rental dwellings a third-degree felony; and SB 1000, setting a floor and ceiling for interest rates on law firm trust accounts. Each of these bills was reported favorably, with broad support and little or no opposition.
The committee also advanced CS/SB 694, which would compensate the descendants of the Groveland Four. Senator Bracey Davis described the bill as a final step in addressing the wrongful convictions, deaths, and long-term harm suffered by Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepard, and Ernest Thomas. Family members and advocacy groups testified in support, urging the state to complete its acknowledgment of wrongdoing with monetary compensation. An amendment was adopted to divide any appropriation equally among the four families. The bill passed unanimously. Finally, SB 144 creating a public records exemption for personal information of Judicial Qualifications Commission employees and their families was approved 9-1. Several members also requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on specific bills before the committee adjourned.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 06/02/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The Jewish American story is in many ways the American story itself.
- As we celebrate Jewish American History, and all of the contributions that the Jewish American community
- We want to make sure that we highlight the relationship, as an African American, and the relationship
- between the African-American community and the Jewish American community during the Civil Rights Movement
- And as a Greek American, the relationship between Greeks and Jewishs, Greek Americans and Jewish Americans
Summary:
The Senate convened, approved the prior day’s journal, and then processed a large number of motions to discharge bills from committees and substitute identical Senate or Assembly versions for third reading. The chamber also adopted the resolution calendar with exceptions and took up several resolutions and ceremonial recognitions, including a resolution mourning Hudson Talbott, a Dairy Month resolution highlighting New York’s dairy industry, and introductions honoring Niskayuna academic teams, Gabriella Scheer for receiving the Liberty Medal, the Hartstein family’s civic engagement, and Diana Cochran’s advocacy for safe firearm storage.
The Senate then moved through the calendar and passed many bills on topics including insurance, public health, education, labor, social services, banking, local government, veterans, public service, consumer protection, criminal procedure, cannabis, parks, taxation, election law, and highway matters. Several members explained votes on notable measures: support for acupuncture insurance coverage, consumer protections for doorbell-camera data sharing, expanded protections in debt collection cases, trauma-informed procedures for sexual assault survivors, a Legionnaires’ disease awareness program, changes to mandatory minimum sentencing, and universal safe storage of firearms. A number of home rule and local authorization bills were also approved, including parkland alienation measures and local tax exemption authorizations.
Most measures passed with broad bipartisan support, though some drew recorded opposition. Notable roll calls included the consumer debt uniformity bill, the mandatory minimum sentencing bill, the safe storage/firearms bill, and the public housing and public health measures, each with more divided votes. The chamber also accepted a lengthy Rules Committee report sending many additional bills directly to third reading, and then began the supplemental calendar, passing at least the first items before the transcript ended.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- This ruling affirmed the fundamental right to privacy and personal autonomy for all Americans.
- So, you know, I'm not African American, and I don't know what it's like to be in that skin, but I had
- a friend who told me, my kid, an African American friend who said, I had to drop off my kid to go get
- American Museum in D.C. about a month ago.
- And that's when, you know, value was placed on our lives as African Americans.
Bills:
HB 1194 , HB 1221 , HB1738 , HB1913 , HB2177 , HB2178 , HB2180 , HB2229 , HB2282 , HB2448 , HB2492 , HB2777 , HB2984 , HB3357 , HB3553 , HB3602
Committee:
House Criminal Jurisprudence
Keywords:
emergency protection order, protective order, magistrate, criminal procedure, victim safety, family violence, domestic violence, stalking, assault, magistrate's order, temporary protection, court order duration, defendant restrictions, Article 17.292, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, emergency restraining order, victim protection, firearm restriction, pretrial intervention, reimbursement fee
Summary:
The committee first took up House Bill 2777 by Representative Rose, which would bar the death penalty for defendants who can prove by clear and convincing evidence that they had schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and active psychotic symptoms at the time of the offense. Rose said the bill would still hold defendants accountable through life without parole, would save money by avoiding lengthy capital litigation, and would address cases where severe mental illness was not adequately considered. Supporters from NAMI Texas, the Catholic bishops, and a forensic psychologist said the bill is narrowly tailored, consistent with neuroscience and moral principles, and would prevent executions of people whose psychosis substantially impaired reality testing. Committee members questioned how the bill interacts with existing competency and insanity law, whether the diagnosis is sufficiently defined, and whether the statute requires active psychosis at the time of the offense. An opponent argued the death penalty should remain available for juries to decide in all cases. The bill was left pending.
The committee then heard House Bill 1221 by Representative Lozano, which would raise the cap on pretrial intervention program fees from $500 to $1,200. Lozano and a district attorney witness said the increase is needed because program costs have risen and the fees help make diversion programs self-sustaining, allowing first-time or low-level offenders to complete rehabilitation and potentially obtain expunction. Opponents from the Texas Fair Defense Project argued the higher fee could make diversion unaffordable for indigent defendants and undermine an important alternative to incarceration, especially where related supervision and monitoring costs already add up. Members discussed whether the fee applies only to PTI participants, how payment plans and waivers work, and whether ability to pay should be addressed more explicitly. The bill was left pending.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1738 by Representative Jones, which would repeal Penal Code Section 21.06 and related Health and Safety Code references concerning homosexual conduct. Jones said the law is unconstitutional under Lawrence v. Texas, remains harmful on the books, and has led to confusion and unnecessary costs even though it is unenforceable. Supporters said the bill simply removes outdated language and protects civil liberties, while opponents from Texas Values argued the statute still serves as a statement that homosexual conduct is unacceptable and should remain as a warning, even if unenforceable. Members debated whether the law’s remaining language is merely symbolic or still harmful, and whether other criminal statutes already cover conduct such as prostitution, incest, and offenses involving minors. The bill was left pending after testimony.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- So again, I took the eight-year period looking at Black, African-American prisoners. helpful in the world
- So again, I took the eight-year period looking at black, African-American prisoners.
- Again, I took the eight-year period looking at Black African-American prisoners, who make up 30% of DOC
- Services uses a community standard of care, makes reference to the Bright Futures standard from the American
- in 1770, a lot of starting the things, you know, successful with the British soldiers who killed Americans
Summary:
The commission on correctional consolidation and collaboration heard testimony focused on how Massachusetts uses custody levels, staffing, programming, and medical release tools, with Prisoners’ Legal Services arguing that the system is overusing expensive high-security settings and underusing step-down options. Dave Rainey said the incarcerated population has dropped substantially over the last several years, but spending and staffing have not fallen in proportion. He argued that DOC overclassifies people into medium and maximum security, relies too heavily on behavioral assessment units that function like segregation, and keeps people in restrictive settings such as Souza-Baranowski and Shattuck Hospital longer than necessary. He also said medical parole is underused and that many people with serious chronic illness or advanced age pose little public-safety risk and should be released through existing legal pathways.
Sheriffs and other commission members pushed back on some of those points, emphasizing that staffing needs are driven by the acuity of the current population, that corrections is not overstaffed, and that classification decisions involve serious public-safety judgments. They also stressed that some high-cost medical placements are necessary because people remain under sentence and require care, and that furloughs and other release tools can create security risks if contraband or substance use is involved. The discussion also covered the role of county sheriffs versus DOC in reentry, with several members saying county systems tend to do more day-to-day step-down and release planning, while DOC has more difficulty moving people through lower-security settings before release.
Ben Foreman of MassINC offered a more systemwide, data-focused perspective, praising the state’s transparency and arguing that Massachusetts has made major progress in reducing incarceration and increasing public safety. He said the state still has an opportunity to improve by right-sizing facilities, investing in community-based mental health treatment, and using the commission to better understand the capital and operating costs of the current system. In response to questions, he said he was aware of DOC studies on programs like furlough but had not reviewed recent ones, and he noted that total-control facilities like Souza-Baranowski have long been criticized in the research literature for poor outcomes.
Nora Wassel of the Women and Incarceration Project then testified that the commission should issue an interim report and scrutinize the planned new women’s prison, which she said is not justified by current population trends or available data. She argued that women are overclassified under DOC’s own tools, that reentry beds and minimum-security placements are underused, and that the system may be failing to account for women’s distinct medical and reentry needs. The meeting ended with continued discussion of reentry, furloughs, day reporting, and whether consolidation should mean fewer facilities, better step-down pathways, or both.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Housing Finance and Policy Committee 2/18/25
Housing Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- you guys can follow our different communities of color all the way throughout this chart to our American
- Indian Native community, to our Black African-American community, and you can see just how much ownership
- The next one is a little bit more encouraging, and I'll mostly focus on our Black African-American community
- The next one is a little bit more encouraging, and I'll mostly focus on our Black African-American community
- </c><01:07:31.640><c> that</c><01:07:32.000><c> if</c><01:07:32.119><c> we</c> minnesotans and Americans
Committee:
House Housing Finance and Policy
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Just think: today, over a thousand Americans of all ages will suffer a sudden cardiac arrest.
- </c><01:04:46.960><c> um</c><01:04:47.200><c> of</c> today over a thousand Americans um of today over
- a thousand Americans um of all<01:04:47.599><c> ages</c><01:04:48.039><c> will</c><01:04:48.279><c>
- </c><01:04:54.880><c> Heart</c><01:04:55.160><c> Association</c> from the American Heart Association
- from the American Heart Association states<01:04:56.559><c> that</c><01:04:57.359><c> that</c><01:04:
Committee:
Senate Education Finance
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-06-02 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It is our American duty that we are called to support veterans.
- It is our American duty that we are called for to support veterans.
- A couple of key Caribbean figures that we have in American history include Alexander Hamilton, born in
- We have Colin Powell, son of Jamaican immigrants, who is the first African American to serve as U.S.
- Shirley Chisholm, born to a Barbadian mother and a Guyanese father, became the first African-American
Summary:
The House took up the special order calendar for a proposed constitutional amendment on property taxes, CS/HJR 1F, which would create a new homestead exemption for non-school taxes, lower the annual assessment cap on non-homestead property, and restrict how counties and municipalities may use ad valorem tax revenue. The sponsor, Rep. Overdorf, said the measure would give homeowners tax relief and argued local governments could adjust spending or use other revenue sources. Opponents repeatedly questioned the ballot language, the lack of a fiscal estimate or backfill, and the potential impact on local services, public safety, and debt obligations. The House adopted the special order report and then debated the resolution and a series of amendments.
Several amendments were offered to carve out or protect specific services from the tax changes. Rep. Bartleman’s amendment to protect Children’s Services Councils and Children’s Trusts was supported by members who said those entities fund early learning, mental health, aftercare, and other services for children and working families, but it failed 25-74. Rep. Cross offered an amendment to include water management districts in allowable ad valorem uses, warning of impacts on flood control, water quality, Everglades restoration, and water supply; that amendment also failed. Rep. Eskamani offered an amendment requiring the Legislature to backfill public safety funding if local revenues fall, arguing police and fire services, staffing, and response times would be at risk; it failed 25-71.
The chamber then rejected Rep. Woodson’s amendment to require state backfill for senior services, with supporters citing Meals on Wheels, transportation, adult day care, and other local senior programs, and opponents saying the proposal was outside the bill’s scope. Finally, Rep. Gant offered an amendment to protect veteran services, saying local governments fund housing, mental health, transition, and family support programs for veterans; debate emphasized the importance of honoring veterans and avoiding cuts to those services. The transcript cuts off during debate on that amendment, before a final vote is shown.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-06-02 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It is our American duty that we are called for to support veterans.
- A couple of key Caribbean figures that we have in American history include Alexander Hamilton, born in
- A couple of key Caribbean figures that we have in American history include Alexander Hamilton, born in
- We have Colin Powell, son of Jamaican immigrants, who is the first African American to serve as U.S.
- Shirley Chisholm, born to a Barbadian mother and a Guyanese father, became the first African-American
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Select Committee on the Status of Boys and Men of Color Apr 28th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- As a first-generation Guatemalan American and recent graduate from UC Riverside, I cannot emphasize enough
- Aaron Vines, Executive Director for A.M.E.N., African American Male Education Network and Development
- The majority are men, and Black and Native American young men face the highest rate of disconnection.
- The majority are men, and Black and Native American young men face the highest rate of disconnection.
- students, underscoring the need to prioritize... ...Latinx and Native American students, underscoring
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections Jan 27th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections
Transcript Highlights:
- Hindu American community members are great contributors across Washington State through spirituality,
- Diwali is the crown of the Hindu festivals celebrated by the majority of Hindu Americans in the United
- Diwali is the crown of the Hindu festivals celebrated by the majority of Hindu Americans in the United
- Hindu Americans celebrate Diwali not only as a festival of lights but as a day to bring light into the
- To honor the contributions of Hindu Americans to the community, a public holiday on Diwali will be a
Keywords:
elections, double voting, voting twice, multiple voting, same-day election, primary election, general election, special election, cross-state voting, ballot fraud, election fraud, voter misconduct, RCW 29A.84.660, State v. Padilla, civil infraction, class C felony, Secretary of State, Washington elections, election law, voter eligibility
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Combatting Antisemitism Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm also Israeli-American.
- I'm an anti-Zionist Jewish American.
- American Jews.
- Now, one of the American tourists. Thank you. Thank you. I'm a really American Torah teacher.
- And I would say that around following that time, also all the buildings of African-American, and particularly
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.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of Lori Chavez-DeRemer, of Oregon, to be Secretary of Labor. - Part 2 of 2 Feb 19th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- Historic support from African American and Latino voters, and record breaking turnout in once solid blue
- That puts the American worker first.
- dad, small business owner, and every American striving for their fair shot at the American dream.
- In fact, the American First agenda was all about protecting American workers.
- Well, my vision for the American worker is to achieve the American dream.
Keywords:
PRO Act, labor laws, worker rights, unionization, right-to-work, public testimony, political polarization
Summary:
The meeting centered around an in-depth discussion of the PRO Act, with representatives expressing passionate opinions both for and against the legislation. Representative Chavez de Rimmer emphasized the importance of worker freedom, arguing that the PRO Act would infringe upon individual rights by coercing unionization. This perspective was strongly received by members from right-to-work states, who articulated their concerns about the potential erosion of workers' choices and protections. Speaker after speaker conveyed conflicting views on labor laws, indicating a deeply polarized environment surrounding labor issues at the moment.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
- It is staff and volunteers in the American Cancer Society and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action
- Gaines was a critically acclaimed American author whose fiction chronicled the lives, dignity, and oral
- traditions of African Americans in rural Louisiana.
- Gaines was a critically acclaimed American author whose fiction chronicled the lives, dignity, and oral
- traditions of African Americans in rural Louisiana.
Bills:
HR244 , HR245 , HR246 , HR247 , HR248 , HR249 , HR250 , HR251 , HCR101 , HCR102 , HR223 , HR224 , HR225 , HR226 , HR227 , HR229 , HR230 , HR231 , HR232 , HR234 , HR235 , HR236 , HR237 , HR238 , HR239 , HR240 , HR241 , HR242 , HR243 , HCR94 , HCR95 , HCR96 , HCR97 , HCR98 , HCR99 , HCR100 , SCR31 , SCR33 , SCR35 , SCR37 , SCR56 , SCR57 , SB171 , SB251 , SB252 , SB353 , SB367 , SB433 , SB461 , HR170 , HR191 , HR206 , HR207 , HR208 , HR217 , HCR11 , HCR53 , HCR60 , HCR66 , HCR68 , HB66 , HB153 , HB165 , HB326 , HB387 , HB454 , HB455 , HB484 , HB513 , HB603 , HB660 , HB719 , HB762 , HB766 , HB793 , HB802 , HB816 , HB833 , HB940 , HB947 , HB950 , HB975 , HB1028 , HB1039 , HB1051 , HB1053 , HB1080 , HB1201 , HB1215 , HB1228 , HB1251 , HB1252 , SCR2 , SB26 , SB28 , SB29 , SB30 , SB41 , SB44 , SB64 , SB84 , SB87 , SB93 , SB98 , SB107 , SB118 , SB142 , SB192 , SB195 , SB199 , SB219 , SB222 , SB234 , SB241 , SB255 , SB275 , SB277 , SB292 , SB294 , SB306 , SB314 , SB482 , SB233 , SB326 , HR171 , HCR49 , HCR65 , HCR72 , HR37 , HCR64 , SCR19 , SCR3 , SCR6 , SCR18 , SCR11 , SCR22 , HB64 , HB68 , HB92 , HB130 , HB258 , HB633 , HB801 , HB89 , HB341 , HB451 , HB456 , HB579 , HB595 , HB621 , HB818 , HB841 , HB1064 , HB1101 , HB1191 , SB47 , SB82 , SB106 , SB206 , SB210 , SB248 , SB305 , SB376 , SB397 , SB441 , SB2 , SB19 , SB24 , SB50 , SB70 , SB96 , SB101 , SB103 , SB104 , SB114 , SB122 , SB159 , SB160 , SB173 , SB180 , SB182 , SB260 , SB412 , SB418 , SB424 , SB442 , SB460 , SB476 , SB1 , SB23 , SB32 , SB42 , SB43 , SB46 , SB51 , SB110 , SB113 , SB150 , SB154 , SB161 , SB218 , SB220 , SB221 , SB253 , SB289 , SB310 , SB351 , SB399 , SB404 , SB502 , HCR32 , HB955 , HB284 , HB617 , HB730 , HB926 , HB1125 , HB1194 , HB1203 , HB798 , HB998 , HB1084 , HB1223 , HB646 , HB824 , HB901 , HB79 , HR20 , HR74 , HB59 , HB306 , HB366 , HB393 , HB458 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB752 , HB773 , HB911 , HB996 , HB1035 , HB1069 , HB1113 , HB1140 , HB1180 , HB1234 , HB1240 , SB89 , SB68 , SB149
Keywords:
disclosure, local law, public notice, legislative transparency, Artists at the Capitol Day, art education, Louisiana Art Education Association, recognition, community engagement, House Resolution 247, HR247, Laura Lewis, birthday commendation, 104th birthday, centenarian, longevity, St. James Parish, Louisiana House of Representatives, Mount Calvary Baptist Church, ceremonial resolution
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House and Governmental Affairs Apr 28th, 2026
House and Governmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Also, when you have these companies, make sure that you have minority participation and African Americans
- Make sure we have minorities, women, veterans, African Americans included in this process.
Committee:
House House and Governmental Affairs
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and considered several bills, mostly dealing with open meetings, public records, election administration, and local government notice requirements. Senate Bill 1 by Sen. Jenkins would authorize electronic voting under the Open Meetings Law and apply retroactively to validate prior electronic votes; after brief discussion and support from the Louisiana Municipal Association, it was reported favorably. House Bill 1052 by Rep. Spell would exempt certain child advocacy center and multidisciplinary team work product, forensic interviews, and related sensitive records from public records disclosure to protect child abuse investigations; testimony from child advocacy organizations emphasized the need to prevent misuse of records and preserve court-controlled access, and the bill was reported favorably. Senate Bill 289 by Sen. Abraham, concerning confidentiality of certain university records and negotiations, was amended to clarify protections for proprietary research, donor confidentiality, and limited confidentiality for industry negotiations, then reported favorably as amended. Senate Bill 218 by Sen. Talbot, allowing alternative certification programs for election officials if approved by the State Board of Election Supervisors, and Senate Bill 220, a technical correction regarding the official journal of the state, were both reported favorably. Senate Bill 161 by Sen. Seaball, repealing a requirement that certain high-salary unclassified state employees register vehicles in Louisiana, was also reported favorably after questions about its scope and purpose.
The committee then took up House Bill 1193 by Rep. Sawyer, which authorizes the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to use indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity construction contracts for maintenance and emergency work. CPRA officials said the model would speed small repairs and pre-construction tasks, improve efficiency, and mirror a similar DOTD approach; an amendment narrowed the public-records language and excluded design-build contracting. Members raised concerns about public records transparency and inclusion of minority and small contractors, but the bill was reported favorably as amended. House Bill 249 by Rep. Green, a constitutional amendment creating an independent compensation commission for elected officials and tying adjustments to CPI, drew extensive debate over removing the legislature from setting salaries, the appointment structure, and whether the state could afford automatic increases. After opposition from several members and a roll-call vote, the bill failed to be reported, 6 yeas to 9 nays. Because HB 249 failed, the companion enabling bill, House Bill 248, was deferred.
Finally, the committee heard House Bill 997 by Rep. Edmondson, which would let parishes, municipalities, and school boards use their own websites as an alternative to newspaper publication for public notices. Supporters from the Police Jury Association argued the bill would reduce duplicative costs, preserve all existing notice requirements, and simply add a third option alongside newspaper publication and newspaper-hosted digital publication. An amendment narrowed the bill to parishes, municipalities, and school boards, removing other political subdivisions. Members questioned transparency, enforcement, record retention, and whether the change would undermine newspapers; supporters said courts would still enforce notice requirements and that local governments already maintain the records. The bill remained under discussion at the end of the transcript, with no final action shown in the excerpt.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House and Governmental Affairs Apr 28th, 2026
House and Governmental Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Also, when you have these companies, make sure that you have minority participation and African Americans
- Make sure we have minorities, women, veterans, African Americans included in this process.
Committee:
House House and Governmental Affairs
Keywords:
Compensation Commission, elected officials, salary evaluation, government accountability, Louisiana legislature, compensation, independent commission, salary adjustment, consumer price index, official journal, public notices, government transparency, local government, municipal website, school board notices, parish council, police jury, special districts, levee district, drainage district
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services May 18th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- They're predominantly Latino and African American families.
- African American families.
- Asian Americans reported median household... regional centers.
- Asian Americans reported median household.
- Christopher Assange, representing the Central American Resource Center.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 4/8/26
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- One provision extends the ability of Hennepin and Ramsey counties to use the Minnesota African American
- budget that includes funding for the other 85 counties if this, uh, if there isn't any delays for the African
- delays if there isn't any delays uh<00:13:36.560><c> for</c><00:13:36.760><c> the</c><00:13:37.160><c> African
- ><00:13:38.320><c> Preservation</c><00:13:38.880><c> Act</c><00:13:39.040><c> that</c> uh for the African
- Preservation Act that uh for the African Preservation Act that we<00:13:39.280><c> passed</c> we passed
Keywords:
human services, background studies, NETStudy 2.0, licensing, license suspension, license revocation, provider enrollment, program integrity, fraud, medical assistance fraud, Medicaid, payment withholding, credible allegation of fraud, background check, disqualification, variance, set-aside, foster care, family foster setting, adult foster care
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Combatting Antisemitism Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- to Washington, D.C., is that they need to go on the same day and one right after the other to the African
- American Museum and the Holocaust Museum.
- to Washington, D.C., is that they need to go on the same day and one right after the other to the African
- American Museum and the Holocaust Museum.
- says, offensive, intimidating, and frightening to a significant portion of the Jewish and Israeli American
Summary:
The commission held its 16th and final meeting to review and vote on revisions to its draft report on combating antisemitism. After roll call, members approved the prior meeting minutes, adopted a procedure for handling substantive and technical edits, and authorized limited technical corrections after the meeting. Senator John Velis’s letter was read into the record noting his military deployment and support for the final report, and the commission discussed the scope of the report, including its 118 findings and recommendations and the large volume of testimony received over the year.
Members then worked through a series of amendments to the report. The chair’s prefatory statement was revised to restore language and data about Massachusetts Jews’ relationship to Israel and the impact on the commission’s work. Commissioner Liken’s proposal called for DESE guidance and teacher training to support intellectually diverse K-12 classrooms; members debated how to ensure it could not be used to justify biased or false material, and the amendment passed with discussion about existing guardrails. Commissioner Hay’s technical edits were adopted, and commissioners also discussed whether DESE’s new reporting system should anonymize data; the language was revised to specify anonymized data and approved.
Additional amendments were adopted on public safety and higher education, including clarifying support for nonprofit security grants and personnel grants, refining language on academic boycotts, and adding references to Zionist identity and presumed Zionist identity as possible bases for antisemitic treatment. Commissioner Kipnis’s revisions to the prefatory statement were also considered, with some members objecting to the removal of language about minimization and traumatic invalidation and others supporting a more concise, fact-driven tone. The commission also approved language strengthening recommendations by changing several “should” statements to “must.”
Treasurer Deborah Goldberg then delivered closing remarks praising the commission’s work and sharing personal family history to illustrate the persistence of antisemitism in Massachusetts. She said the report offers a practical roadmap, including bias reporting in schools, security coordination, and broader anti-discrimination training, and emphasized that the recommendations will help all communities. Commissioners thanked her for her leadership and testimony. The meeting continued with further amendments, including one on law enforcement security grants and another on higher education findings and recommendations, and the commission repeatedly voted by roll call, generally approving the revisions unanimously.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Our great mayor of the great city, all-american city, Edinburgh.
- She is board certified as a diplomat of the American. American Board of Family Medicine since 2014.
- He became the first African-American to chair the Public Education Committee during the 18th Congressional
Bills:
SJR1 , SB9 , SB40 , SJR36 , SJR1 , SJR5 , SB9 , SB40 , SJR1 , SB9 , SB40 , SR62 , SR92 , SR95 , SR108 , SR110 , SR111 , SR113 , SR114 , SR117 , SR120 , SB314 , SB314
Keywords:
bail denial, illegal aliens, felony offenses, constitutional amendment, law enforcement, bail reform, defendants, pretrial detention, public safety, criminal justice, charitable bail organizations, bail bonds, public funds, political subdivision, injunctive relief, taxpayer rights, bail, criminal justice reform, El Paso, economic development
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Seclusion Working Group - 10/08/25
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Our second largest population is our African-American and Black students, and our white student population
- </c> of the largest populations are American of the largest populations are American Indian<00:02:20.560
- 02:24.720><c> is</c><00:02:24.959><c> our</c> largest population is our largest population is our African-American
- 25.920><c> and</c><00:02:26.160><c> black</c><00:02:26.480><c> students</c><00:02:27.360><c> and</c> African-American
- and black students and African-American and black students and our<00:02:27.840><c> white</c><00:02: