Video & Transcript : 'predatory funding' :

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NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Appropriations and Finance Feb 9th, 2026 at 06:36 pm

House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • investment fund that provides revenue for the Land of Enchantment Legacy Fund, from which distributions
  • The changes that HB 184 would ensure that the fund will be sustained into the future and allow more funding
  • It made several changes to the structure of that fund...” “That fund.
  • The Public Project Revolving Fund provides stable, consistent funding that is not reliant on the general
  • fund.
Bills: HB63 , HB64 , HB184 , HB200 , HB47 , HB48 , HB2 , HB9
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Finance Feb 9th, 2026

House Appropriations & Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is the activity of our general fund. The green line represents our revenues.
  • And that's huge for them when their general fund budget is only $3.5 million.
  • You know, with a lower amount of funding that's coming.
  • And we've been working with FEMA, and we've gotten some funding for flood mitigation.
  • It's going to have to come out of our general fund.
Bills: HB63 , HB64 , HB184 , HB200 , HB47 , HB48 , HB2 , HB9
Summary: The committee heard testimony on the expected impacts of House Bill 9 on private detention facilities and the surrounding counties and municipalities, focusing on Cibola County/Milan, Torrance County/Estancia, and Otero County. Corrections Secretary Alicia Lucero explained that the Corrections Department does not oversee the immigration detention facilities directly, but said the department could help displaced workers through hiring fairs and expedited hiring into state positions, and suggested possible alternative uses for the buildings such as behavioral health treatment, training campuses, or transitional living centers. She also noted that a memorial would task several state agencies and affected counties with exploring alternate uses and economic options, and that Workforce Solutions had scheduled job fairs in February for the affected communities. Local officials described major fiscal and community impacts. Cibola County and Milan said the loss of the facility would reduce gross receipts tax revenue, force service cuts, and potentially shrink the county budget substantially; they also warned that the village uses the detention population to support federal grant applications and industrial park development. Torrance County and Estancia said the closure would eliminate jobs, reduce GRT revenue that funds public safety, and require transporting prisoners to other facilities at much higher bed rates, with estimated annual impacts around $3 million. Otero County reported 284 jobs and $20.8 million in payroll at risk, along with about $3 million in annual GRT and a $68 million facility that could be foreclosed if bonds defaulted. Committee members pressed for more precise numbers, including employee counts, transport costs, current bed costs, and the total fiscal impact after accounting for existing contract payments. Several members emphasized that each facility and community is different and asked for separate, detailed plans, including short-term cost replacement and long-term economic diversification. There was discussion of possible hold-harmless assistance, emergency bill drafting, and coordination with Workforce Solutions, Economic Development, and higher education partners. No formal vote was taken; the chair directed staff and agencies to meet the next morning to continue developing an emergency response and requested more detailed information from the counties and the department.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

TRS-EIG, TRS Public Hearings 02-05-2026

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • It establishes a fare-free youth transit program special fund.
  • </c><00:06:59.759><c> It</c> youth transit program special fund.
  • It youth transit program special fund.
  • It of the new program and special fund.
  • And so funds in establishing them.
Summary: The committees heard testimony on several transportation-related measures. SB 2356, relating to parking, drew support from the Office of Planning, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, Appleseed Center, Realtors, and the Hawaii Bicycling League. Members discussed the bill in the context of the planned stadium-area mixed-use development, with questions about whether parking would be built in structures rather than as large surface lots. Senators expressed support and noted the measure’s broader housing and parking-reduction goals, but no vote was taken during the hearing. The bulk of the hearing focused on SB 2699, which would create a fare-free youth transit program, a special fund, annual evaluations, and appropriations tied to the environmental, energy, and food security tax. The Attorney General’s office raised technical concerns about whether the special fund met statutory requirements. The Department of Education and Department of Health supported the bill, as did the City and County of Honolulu DOT, Appleseed Center, Hawaii Youth Transportation Council, Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Hawaii Bicycling League, Our Children’s Trust, and numerous youth testifiers. Supporters emphasized reduced family transportation costs, better school attendance, improved health and mobility, and environmental benefits. One senator raised emergency-planning concerns about how children using free transit would be handled during events like tsunamis; DOT and DOE responded that emergency procedures are being developed. The chair said the committee would work on language changes, including a delayed effective date to July 2027, and defer decision-making until the 12th. The final measure discussed was SB 2470, which would require leading pedestrian intervals, accessible pedestrian signals, and other safety improvements at state-controlled intersections, and create a process for community requests for accessible pedestrian signals. Appleseed Center, the Hawaii Association of the Blind, and the Disability Rights Center supported the bill, citing pedestrian safety, reduced collisions, and the need for audible cues for blind and low-vision pedestrians. Testifiers urged a phased-in approach that prioritizes high-traffic intersections. The hearing ended with the bill still under consideration and no final vote announced.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Ways & Means Feb 5th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • We need more funding for transportation, more funding for water and sewer, and more funding for other
  • 609 funds.
  • the general fund in the 2025-27 biennium and $4 million in total funds over four years.
  • That group was funded $136,000 General Fund-State in fiscal year 2026.
  • That's why funding matters.
Committee: Senate Ways & Means
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Senate Session (Part II) Aug 21st, 2025

Texas Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • The preparedness provisions in the bill, along with the funding that we have already approved through
  • We need to focus on basic infrastructure, fund our schools, take care of some healthcare, and address
  • DISHES will have additional funding to meet, I believe, 13 FTEs that will, from what they have told us
Bills: SB 9 , SB 7 , SB 17 , SB 4 , SB 1 , HB4 , HB4 , SB9 , SB7 , SB17 , SB4 , SB1 , SB2 , SB5
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

State Affairs Apr 28th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • So the, the seller we've closed the seller has received their funds.
  • Second, our law students and legal system benefits when we fund access to justice.
  • And many attorneys are funded through legal defense funds which would be banned by this bill.
  • Legal defense funds don't interfere with federal immigration enforcement.
  • or funding the local police or funding roads that they diverted this money to go and fund.
Committee: House State Affairs
TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Natural Resources Apr 9th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • , we have the matching funds, all of these things.
  • Uh, GCDs are funded solely by local tax and or production fees.
  • Uh, high-level, very well-funded legal fight.
  • Without it being a taxing entity, how are you getting your funding?
  • This reduces the burden on the local leaders to propose tax rates, increase and help meet funding, funding
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Natural Resources Apr 9th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • and drainage projects that are eligible for financial assistance from and the Flood Infrastructure Fund
  • that are in the middle of drawing those funds, currently the way the bill is laid out?
  • GCDs are funded solely by local tax and or production fees most GCDs operate on lean budgets designed
  • But we can't get funding. for the water and sewer infrastructure, because it's not planted.
  • Without it being a taxing entity, how are you getting your funding?
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Natural Resources Apr 9th, 2025

Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • disqualified from receiving grants. for this appropriation, but could provide this appropriation of funds
  • multipurpose flood mitigation projects which address flooding and create new water supplies. is eligible for funding
  • Bill 3915 expands the definition of projects eligible for funding from the Flood Infrastructure Fund
  • I ask that upon passage of House Bill 3519, the district's project will be eligible to fund. under the
  • one last question is where do we rank when without this bill where would we rank for projects and funding
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Ways & Means May 5th, 2025

Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • From 2003 to 2006, the state and federally funded pilot program showed promising results by removing
  • Unfortunately, that program ended due to a lack of funding, and its goals have still not been met.
  • Unfortunately, state funding has consistently fallen short.
  • Despite our central roles, ESDs are excluded from this stable and proven funding mechanism.
  • This is a voter-approved funding source to get those resources to our first responders.
Committee: House Ways & Means
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am

Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies

Transcript Highlights:
  • And the industry does fund that.
  • Thanks to the funds flowing into our gaming capital stabilization fund under our host community agreement
  • I am Les Burnell, and I'm the National Director for Stop Predatory Gambling.
  • The institution of predatory gambling has been an epic public policy failure.
  • We say there's a difference between social gambling and predatory gambling.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies, chaired by Rep. Carole Fiola and Sen. Barry Finegold, held a lengthy hearing on a range of gambling-related bills. Testimony first focused on H. 496 to allow the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to authorize Plain Ridge Park Casino to add table games and more slot machines. Supporters, including Rep. Jeffrey Roy, Sen. Finegold, Rep. Barry R. Finegold, Rep. Brian Vaughn, and Plainville officials, argued the change was needed to keep Massachusetts gaming dollars from flowing to Rhode Island, protect jobs, and preserve local tax revenue. They described Plain Ridge as a strong community partner and cited host-community benefits such as municipal infrastructure projects and local aid. Opponents or skeptical witnesses later argued that expanded gambling, especially online, would increase harm and cannibalize existing casinos and local economies. The committee also heard testimony on bills related to sports betting restrictions and online gambling. Sen. John Keenan presented a “Better Health Act” proposal to ban prop bets and in-play bets, require affordability checks, prohibit hosts, raise the sports betting excise tax, expand funding for problem-gambling services, and increase research and data sharing. He and supporters framed the bill as a public-health response to addiction, suicide, bankruptcy, and other harms. Rep. David Nangle, speaking from personal experience with gambling addiction, strongly opposed internet gaming, warning that it would intensify addiction and expose children and families to 24/7 gambling on phones. In contrast, Rep. David Moradian and industry witnesses supported H. 4431 to legalize and regulate internet gaming, arguing it would bring illegal activity into a regulated market, generate new revenue, and include consumer protections such as age verification, deposit limits, self-exclusion, and responsible-gaming tools. The committee also took testimony on H. 4238, which would expand fundraising options for fraternal organizations, especially the Elks. Rep. Bruce Ayers and Elks representatives said the bill would help lodges raise money for scholarships, veterans’ services, and community programs after COVID-related losses and declining membership. On H. 480, Rep. Kathleen LaNatra, Rep. Badger, and representatives of veterans organizations and gaming-machine operators urged allowing qualified veterans groups to participate in certain video gaming activity, saying it would provide a sustainable revenue source to keep posts open and support veterans’ services. Dr. Rachel Volberg testified that expanding gambling, especially online gambling and slot machines at veterans organizations, would likely increase gambling harm, and she urged stronger harm-prevention measures, data reporting, and research funding. Other witnesses, including anti-gambling advocates and industry representatives, sharply disagreed over whether legalization would reduce illegal gambling or worsen addiction and social costs. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Mar 5th, 2026 at 05:40 pm

Washington House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Adding additional responsibilities without support for funding is going to cause additional workload
  • at the congressional level where... ...you and I, people just like us, are eligible for the slush fund
  • And there was a situation where the county commissioners had approved some funds to be spent that was
  • And what that means is when a bigger, better funded plaintiff, plaintiff...
  • When a bigger, better funded plaintiff party to a lawsuit, a big law firm, isn't sure that its case is
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Mar 5th, 2026 at 09:30 am

Washington House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Clerk will read: An act relating to modifying certain funding and exemptions.
  • The title of the bill is an act relating to modifying certain funding, Amendment 2337.
  • What this, well, the underlying bill gives greater flexibility to how certain funds can be used.
  • And I believe that our funds should be primarily focused on That our funds should be primarily focused
  • Speaker, this does not force the use of those funds for rental assistance.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Mar 4th, 2026 at 08:25 pm

Washington House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • not sure we want that to become a profit center for either this department or the state's general fund
Summary: The House received a Senate message that Substitute House Bill 1570 had passed the Senate, then moved several bills from Rules to the second reading calendar, including Substitute Senate Bill 5242 on anaphylaxis medications in schools and Senate Bill 6132 on Inland Port District debt. The chamber then took up several bills, beginning with Senate Bill 5988 on Department of Health accreditation fee authority for opioid treatment programs. Amendment 2336 to cap the fee at $17,000 was debated at length but rejected, and a separate amendment to add safe-injection-site language was ruled out of scope. Senate Bill 5988 then passed 62-34. Substitute Senate Bill 6309 on enhanced municipal permitting tools for high-capacity transit projects drew multiple amendments focused on Sound Transit’s authority. Amendments to require written consent from abutting property owners, to add flood-zone and seismic/critical-area protections, and to address public-records issues were either rejected or ruled beyond scope, though the local government committee amendment was adopted. The bill passed 56-38. The House also passed Substitute Senate Bill 5886 on digital personality rights and Senate Bill 6136 on transparency in workers’ compensation rate-setting, both with strong bipartisan support. Later, the House passed a series of additional bills: Substitute Senate Bill 6034 codifying the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs; Gross Second Substitute Senate Bill 5395 on prior authorization reform, with remarks emphasizing limits on AI in health care decisions; Substitute Senate Bill 6248 creating the Washington Travel Insurance Act; Substitute Senate Bill 5720 establishing uniform consumer debt default judgment procedures; Senate Bill 5995 on port modernization funding and labor considerations; Senate Bill 6103 affecting rural hospitals; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6110 creating a work group on e-motorcycles; Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5156 allowing smaller elevators to support accessible, more affordable housing; Substitute Senate Bill 6269 updating motor fuel definitions to include hydrogen; Substitute Senate Bill 6189 giving Thurston County more time to pursue an aquatics public facilities district; and Senate Bill 6134 requiring unemployment applicants to acknowledge repayment obligations if retroactive union pay is received. Most of these bills passed with large margins, and the House adjourned after completing final passage votes.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Mar 4th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Washington House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It should fund more of Schomania.
  • It should fund more of Schomania. County. It should fund more of Mason County's schools.
  • It should fund more of Scamania County schools.
  • There's not a lot of money there to fund basic county operations.
  • This is an agency request bill that creates two separate accounts outside the general fund to fund the
Summary: The House took up a series of Senate bills and moved most of them quickly to third reading and final passage, often suspending the rules and adopting committee amendments without objection. Early action included Senate Bill 5944, which addresses compensation for interpreters working for L&I when appointments are canceled or missed; it passed 86-10. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5837, dealing with guardianship and supported decision-making, drew debate over a new right to counsel in guardianship cases and concerns about expanding civil legal obligations, but it passed 73-23. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6197, a plumbers enforcement/discipline measure tied to task force work on wages and the underground economy, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6019, fixing a loophole in home care worker parity law, also passed unanimously, as did Senate Bill 6011, which extends authority for Court of Appeals bailiffs to assess threats against judges and staff, though members noted concerns about access to non-conviction data. Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6058, aimed at improving Labor and Industries’ ability to address wage theft complaints and backlog, passed 96-0 after House amendments. Substitute Senate Bill 5923, allowing an island hospital in Skagit County to become a critical access hospital, passed 96-0 amid support for rural health care. Senate Bill 5994, which changes how timber tax revenue is distributed so school districts are not penalized when levies fail, also passed 96-0. Substitute Senate Bill 6076, streamlining public utility district procurement and raising spending thresholds, passed 95-1 after a capital budget amendment. The House then moved to second reading of Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5925, a major bill expanding the Attorney General’s authority to issue civil investigative demands in constitutional and discrimination-related matters. The bill prompted extensive debate over civil liberties, due process, and the potential for government overreach. Amendment 2160, which would have required clear and convincing evidence before a CID could issue, was rejected 38-48. Amendment 2149, creating a right to cure before a CID, was also rejected. Amendment 2150, requiring assistant attorney general approval and a reasonable suspicion standard, failed 38-48. Amendment 2151, requiring the Attorney General personally to approve CIDs in writing, failed as well. However, several narrowing amendments were adopted, including limits on scope and relevance (2288), a prohibition on CIDs to federal agencies (2289), a ban on sharing CID-derived information for criminal law enforcement purposes (2290), and a requirement that the Attorney General’s office consult with other agencies in certain overlapping investigations (2154 was rejected, but later amendments continued). Other proposed protections, such as fee-shifting for successful CID challenges and reimbursement when a CID produces no action, were debated at length but not adopted in the portion of the transcript provided.