Video & Transcript : 'freedom of expression' :

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CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Labor, Public Employment and Retirement Committee Jun 10th, 2026

Labor, Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:
  • My members consist of over 70% of the market of the providers of medical provider networks.
  • Mike West, on behalf of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, sponsors of
  • of employment.
  • I'm the chair of Moms for Liberty of Contra Costa County.
  • of Counties.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • of requests closed within five days, average number of days from receipt of request to final disposition
  • And then, again, just because of the complexity of public records, I think that a task force of the experts
  • As if they were to say, 'We're all into this freedom of speech stuff, but, you know, people use it to
  • I believe all of the sponsor of this bill and the Association of Cities are all honorable people, and
  • One of them is that folks happen to figure out how to opt in or opt out of being part of the PRA.
Summary: The House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee heard testimony on House Bill 2514, which would create a work group to plan a Global War on Terror Memorial on the Capitol campus. The prime sponsor and supporters, including veterans, Gold Star family members, and military advocates, said the memorial would honor Washingtonians who died in Iraq and Afghanistan and those who later died by suicide, while helping secure private fundraising and a concrete plan for the project. No opposition was recorded during the hearing, and the bill was later closed without a vote in the transcript excerpt. The committee also heard House Bill 2661, which would create a temporary task force to study public records request abuse, including frivolous, retaliatory, or harassing requests, and consider possible reforms. Supporters from cities and school-related organizations said some agencies face heavy costs, legal review burdens, and repeated or overly broad requests, especially in schools. Opponents from open-government and media groups argued the bill misdiagnoses the problem, could restrict access, and should instead focus on better staffing, training, technology, and compliance. The hearing ended without a vote in the excerpt. In executive session, the committee voted to advance several bills. It reported out proposed substitute House Bill 2637, which expands Public Records Act exemptions for certain personal information, on a 4-3 vote; House Bill 2632, which updates terminology for noncitizens, on a 4-3 vote; proposed substitute House Bill 2499, on conservation district governance and disclosure rules, on a 4-3 vote after rejecting two amendments; House Bill 2198, concerning the statewide credential catalog and online repository, on a 6-1 vote; and House Bill 2520, allowing emergency meetings outside a county seat and clarifying Open Public Meetings Act procedures, on a 7-0 vote.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Mar 3rd, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • It is the custom and tradition of the Senate that we begin each session with a word of prayer.
  • Of Senate Bill 1732, will be questions of the author?
  • That concludes the explanation of Senate Bill 1317. There'll be Questions of the author.
  • The measure requires the veteran to have been a resident of the state of Oklahoma.
  • There will be questions of the author and questions of Senator Stanley.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee Mar 3rd, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> me ask a couple of questions. me ask a couple of questions.
  • </c> damages of $25,000 or more. damages of $25,000 or more.
  • And on line 46, you see the stability is part of that equation of of taking the child and um allowing
  • Special Advocate—as well as representatives of Office of Prosecution Services, Department of Human Resources
  • </c> state in those types of hearings. state in those types of hearings.
Bills: HB227 , HB454 , SB323 , HB266 , SB52 , SB53 , SB296 , HB37 , HB429 , HB93 , HB249 , HB328 , HB111 , HB132 , HB26 , SB261 , HB227 , HB454 , SB323 , HB266 , SB52 , SB53 , SB296 , HB37 , HB429 , HB93 , HB249 , HB328 , HB111 , HB132 , HB26 , SB261
Committee: Senate Judiciary
OK
Transcript Highlights:
  • business will be followed today: prayer, pledge of allegiance, introduction, introduction of doctor
  • and nurse of the Direction of previous day's journal, House and Senate bills and joint resolutions on
  • I invite all of Oklahoma to pray.
  • Members, this is the An annual recognition of Rose Day, which honors the sanctity of life.
  • Doctor Azi is a board-certified diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee Jan 21st, 2026

Public Safety and Homeland Security

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> to this uh that type of device? to this uh that type of device?
  • </c> and date of birth. and date of birth.
  • </c> of doing? of doing? &gt;&gt; Yes,<00:28:51.279><c> sir.
  • lensure of new at the beginning of lensure of new riders.<00:35:19.200><c> Alabama</c><00:35:20.160>
  • </c> of 2027 because of that. Move a dash. of 2027 because of that. Move a dash.
Bills: HB1 , HB198 , HB11 , HB32 , HB33 , HB34 , HB56 , HB68 , HB72 , HB101 , HB102 , HB110 , HB154 , HB166 , HB168 , HB274 , SB114 , HB1 , HB198 , HB11 , HB32 , HB33 , HB34 , HB56 , HB68 , HB72 , HB101 , HB102 , HB110 , HB154 , HB166 , HB168 , HB274 , SB114
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/01/2026 - Senate Floor Session

Arizona Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Date of June 1, 2026. Date of this date of May of June 1st, 2026. All right.
  • , also a member of the U of A Rangelands Partnership and chair of the Arizona section of the Society
  • of speech. ...to say what we want to say, to have our freedom of speech, those are all things that a
  • of speech. to say what we want to say, to have our freedom of speech, those are all things that a lot
  • Words cannot express the sorrow I feel to hear of their loss.
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Transportation Apr 15th, 2026

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • Most of them are good, I guess, freedom-loving.
  • one of these from 2024.
  • the state of Missouri.”
  • Do you know about the approximate cost range of one of these devices?
  • We do think that this bill will be helpful, especially for protecting the freedom of those outside of
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

LBT Public Hearing 03-18-2026

Labor and Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • private information without chilling freedom of expression.
  • </c><00:15:08.480><c> chilling</c><00:15:08.760><c> freedom</c><00:15:09.000><c> of</c> information without
  • chilling freedom of information without chilling freedom of expression.<00:15:10.160><c> While</c><00
  • </c><00:26:22.080><c> work</c> Labor has a number of of classes of work Labor has a number of of classes
  • of the Department of Education.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures. HB 2271 HD2, making emergency appropriations for public employment cost items, drew support from state agencies and other entities, including HPHA, the University of Hawaiʻi, DLNR, OYS, DAGS, DOH, DOA/Biosecurity, and the Behavioral Health Administration; no opposition was noted. HB 2324 HD2, relating to the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Law, was supported by DLIR, which said the bill removes a duplicative Hoisting Machine Operators Advisory Board requirement and aligns whistleblower investigation timelines with federal standards. HB 2387 HD1, relating to workers’ compensation medical benefits, also received support from DLIR and the State Fire Council, with the chair noting 40 supporters and no opposition or comments. HB 2116 HD2, relating to grants, was presented as a response to federal SNAP-related eligibility changes. Supporters included the Office of Community Services, Hawaii Public Health Institute, Catholic Charities Hawaii, and several other organizations. Testimony said the bill would help nonprofits provide volunteer opportunities that could count toward an 80-hour monthly work requirement and help vulnerable residents avoid losing benefits; witnesses cited potential impacts on older adults and households with dependent children. HB 1682 HD1, relating to the disclosure of intimate images, drew strong support from advocates, the Uniform Law Commission, the Commission to Promote Uniform Laws, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and others. Testifiers emphasized the harms of non-consensual image sharing, the need for civil remedies, confidentiality protections, and the bill’s alignment with a uniform act already enacted in other states. HB 2468 HD1, relating to internship programs, received support from the University of Hawaiʻi, DLIR, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, and others. Testimony focused on the Hālau Mua internship program, workforce development, and the need to clarify sponsor contracts, background checks, and onboarding; committee members asked about a former intern now working in an 89-day hire position and how to streamline hiring into civil service roles. HB 2091 HD2, relating to petitions to restrain and enjoin harassment of DOE employees, was supported by DOE, the Attorney General’s office, UPW, and others; the AG’s office requested a data-driven appropriation amount, and members discussed a $300,000 figure for the full two-year pilot. The chair also asked for confirmation of prior cost figures for HB 2116 before moving toward decision-making.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • On behalf of the University of California, I am here as a proud sponsor to express our support of AB
  • So we have an express exemption right now for security of the facilities.
  • Yadi with Oakland Privacy in support and also expressing support on behalf of the California Community
  • Yadi with Oakland privacy and support and also expressing support on behalf of the California Community
  • Yadira Lounes with Oakland Privacy in support, also expressing support on behalf of the California Community
Summary: The committee first heard AB 56, which would require social media platforms to display a warning label about potential mental health harms from prolonged use, with amendments shortening the initial warning and allowing immediate access to the platform. The author and supporters, including a parent who lost a daughter to suicide and a therapist, argued that social media contributes to teen anxiety, self-harm, and other harms and that families need clearer public health information. Opponents from tech and civil liberties groups argued the bill would be ineffective, burdensome, and likely unconstitutional, saying it would create warning fatigue and should be replaced by more targeted tools and digital literacy measures. Several members discussed emergency access concerns, language access, and whether the warning should be more actionable; the bill was moved on a 9-0 vote to the Judiciary Committee. The committee then took up AB 358, which would amend CalECPA to allow law enforcement, with the victim’s consent, to inspect certain abandoned tracking or surveillance devices found in a victim’s home, vehicle, or personal property without first obtaining a warrant. The author and a San Diego prosecutor said the bill is narrowly tailored to devices used solely for spying and is intended to help stalking and domestic violence survivors act quickly before evidence is lost. Opponents from EFF and the ACLU warned the bill would weaken warrant protections, create a loophole around CalECPA, and reduce transparency and accountability. Members debated Fourth Amendment issues, abandonment, and the practical need for rapid access; the bill passed the committee on a 9-0 vote to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 1137, which builds on last year’s CSAM reporting law by allowing any user to report child sexual abuse material, requiring clearer reporting mechanisms, adding human review in some cases, and mandating third-party audits and public reporting. Supporters, including survivor advocates and a parent of a child victim, said the bill would reduce the burden on survivors and improve removal of abusive content. Tech industry opponents said they support the goal but objected to the human-review mandate, public audit disclosures, and enforcement provisions, arguing they could create security risks and compliance burdens. Members generally supported the bill’s intent but raised questions about audit frequency and human review; the bill was moved on call with seven votes at the time of the transcript.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Public Safety Committee Apr 21st, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • That type of hearing would take place out of the presence of the jury.
  • Rachel Velkov Holtz, on behalf of the National Center for Youth Law, and expressing support for Allianza
  • of out of the system in safe and appropriate ways.
  • the specter of concern are we seeing the opposition expressed over the last week?
  • Vasquez, on behalf of Kansas, on behalf of... J.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several public safety bills, with most of the discussion focused on AB 1650, AB 2014, AB 1886, AB 2126, AB 2624, and AB 2257. AB 1650 would require clearer identification on privately owned vehicles rented or leased to government agencies for enforcement operations; supporters framed it as a transparency and safety measure in response to ICE activity, while no opposition testified. AB 2014 would allow post-conviction habeas relief where gender bias or stereotypes were used at trial and may have affected the outcome; supporters described cases involving sexist and anti-LGBTQ stereotypes, while the California District Attorneys Association opposed the bill as overbroad and likely to restrict relevant evidence, though the author said recent amendments removed the evidence-code provisions and left only the habeas remedy. AB 1886 would extend a 12-month probation presumption to youth in out-of-home placements and those discharged from secure youth treatment facilities; youth advocates supported it as a fairness and rehabilitation measure, while judges, probation officials, and district attorneys opposed it as undoing a recent compromise and limiting individualized decisions. AB 2126 would speed hiring of peer partners in child welfare by creating a narrow exemption process for certain foster-youth-related offenses; it drew broad support and no opposition. AB 2624 would expand the Safe at Home address-confidentiality program to immigrant service providers, employees, and volunteers; supporters cited threats, doxing, and harassment, while one journalist opposed it over possible effects on reporting, and the author and committee members said the bill preserves press protections and is narrowly aimed at threats and harassment. AB 2257 would restore county authority to create a separate corrections department to run jails instead of the sheriff; supporters argued it would improve accountability and address jail deaths and fiscal problems, while sheriffs opposed it as unnecessary and said sheriffs are already subject to oversight. The committee also noted several bills pulled by their authors and adopted a consent calendar of unrelated measures. Votes were not always taken immediately because the committee was waiting for a quorum, but AB 2624 was moved on a do-pass-as-amended motion to Appropriations and left on call, and the chair indicated support or favorable recommendations on several of the other measures.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Labor and Industrial Relations May 20th, 2026

Labor & Industrial Relations

Transcript Highlights:
  • So to me, this all sounds like it's a battle of freedom of choice, which is very, very simple—very simple
  • freedom of choice.
  • freedom of choice.
  • of choice, but then this body has infringed upon freedom of choice for a very long time.
  • We're definitely not against freedom of choice.
Summary: The House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations met for its final meeting of the 2026 session and took up SB 312 by Senator Talbot, a bill concerning labor organizations, employee dues and fees, withdrawal from unions, annual notice requirements, and related reporting and notification provisions. The committee first adopted a technical amendment set, then debated a larger amendment set that shifted the cease-withholding request to the employer, required electronic confirmation, placed certain administrative costs on the labor organization, and added language about employer notification and authorization procedures. Members discussed whether the bill was needed, whether employees already have the ability to opt out, and whether the amendments would create confusion or unnecessary bureaucracy. Supporters said the bill protects employee choice and ensures dues stoppage happens at the nearest payroll period; opponents argued the added language was unclear and burdensome. The committee also adopted a separate technical amendment adding mass transit employees to the list of exemptions. Testimony came from the bill author and several stakeholders. Senator Talbot said the bill is meant to ensure workers know they do not have to join a union, can revoke dues authorizations, and can stop deductions without waiting for a fixed annual window. Representative Eccles defended the amendments as employee protections and a way to shift administrative costs away from taxpayers. Jim Patterson of LABI supported the amendments, saying they protect public employers and taxpayers from administrative costs. After the amendments were adopted on a roll call vote, union representatives Matt Wood of the Louisiana AFL-CIO, Peter Robbins-Brown of the AFL-CIO, and Larry Carter of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers and School Employees testified in opposition to the amended bill, saying they had worked in good faith on a simpler opt-in/opt-out framework and objected to the new cost and bureaucracy provisions. Several members also spoke in favor of the bill as a matter of freedom of choice and employee control over paycheck deductions. At the end of debate, Representative Wilder moved to report SB 312 with amendments. The motion passed on a roll call vote, and the bill was reported from committee with amendments. The committee then adjourned.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
  • So to me, this all sounds like it's a battle of freedom of choice, which is very, very simple—very simple
  • freedom of choice.
  • freedom of choice.
  • of choice, but then this body has infringed upon freedom of choice for a very long time.
  • We're definitely not against freedom of choice.
Summary: The House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations met for its final meeting of the session and took up SB 312 by Senator Talbot, a bill concerning labor organizations, employee dues and fees, withdrawal from unions, collective bargaining agreements, and related notice and reporting requirements. The author explained the bill would require annual notice to employees of their right to join or refrain from joining a labor organization, allow dues deductions to be authorized and revoked electronically, and require stoppage of deductions at the nearest possible payroll period after notice. The committee first adopted a technical amendment set, then considered a larger amendment set that shifted the withdrawal request to the employer, required the employer to notify the labor organization, placed the burden of proving notice compliance on the labor organization, and made the labor organization responsible for certain administrative costs. Supporters said the bill protected employee choice and could reduce taxpayer-funded administrative burdens; opponents argued the amendments created confusion, unnecessary bureaucracy, and unclear invoicing and cost-shifting procedures. Testimony came from business and labor representatives on both sides. Jim Patterson of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry supported the cost-shifting language as a way to protect taxpayers and public employers. Matt Wood, Peter Robbins-Brown, and Larry Carter, representing labor groups, said they had worked for months to reach a simpler opt-in/opt-out framework and objected to the new amendments as adding complexity and uncertainty. Several members questioned why police, firefighters, and later mass transit employees were exempted; the author and others said those exclusions were tied to federal law or because those groups had not requested inclusion. After debate, the committee adopted the large amendment set and then adopted a separate technical amendment adding mass transit employees to the exemption list. On the bill itself, members continued debating whether the measure was necessary if unions already allow members to opt out and whether the bill should apply only to public employees such as teachers and school workers. The committee ultimately voted to report SB 312 with amendments. The motion passed on a roll call vote, with several members voting no, and the meeting adjourned afterward.
FL

Florida 2026 4th Special Session

January 29, 2026 - 03:00 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • is determined by a vote of a majority of all employees in the unit rather than a majority of only those
  • Florida must remain vigilant against foreign threats, safeguard the freedom of Floridians, and take proactive
  • we can to protect the freedom of our fellow Floridians and I am proud to work in this legislature and
  • Fourteenth largest economy and we wave that flag of freedom everywhere.
  • of the Rep.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session May 14th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • And the House has been notified of the suspension of joint rules as required by paragraph B of joint
  • of that.'
  • That is part of the reason why we're pushing this off to the effective date of July 1 of 2027, so that
  • And the last one is the original section, which was kind of a repeat of the promulgation of rules on
  • of their.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • We receive a lot of hate calls, a lot of threats of violence.
  • We receive a lot of hate calls, a lot of threats of violence against our organization.
  • We receive a lot of hate calls, a lot of threats of violence. hate calls, a lot of threats of violence
  • I agree with the fact that the ideal of protecting our First Amendment freedoms, the people should be
  • I agree with the fact that the ideal of protecting our First Amendment freedoms, the people should be
Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard several bills focused on consumer transparency, environmental protection, education accountability, and privacy protections. AB 2143 by Assemblymember Irwin would prohibit online marketplaces from accepting payment for noxious weeds shipped into California; supporters said the bill would close an e-commerce loophole that helps spread invasive species, while TechNet opposed it unless clearer standards and safeguards were added. AB 1744 by Assemblymember Addis, the Clear Labels, Clear Seas Act, would bar sunscreen products containing chemical UV filters from being marketed as “reef safe” or similar claims; supporters, including a Sacramento high school eco club and Surfrider Foundation, said the bill would prevent misleading greenwashing, while the Personal Care Products Council expressed concern about implications for the safety of those ingredients. The committee also heard AB 1861 by Assemblymember Lackey, which would require the California Department of Education to maintain a public, searchable database of special education complaint decisions with personal information redacted. Supporters said the bill would improve transparency and help identify patterns of noncompliance affecting students with disabilities, while county education officials argued state resources should instead go toward filling special education vacancies. AB 2624 by Assemblymember Bonta would expand the Safe at Home address confidentiality program to immigrant service providers, employees, and volunteers and restrict online posting of their personal information when intended to threaten or intimidate; supporters described rising harassment, doxing, and threats against immigrant-serving organizations, while Assemblymember DeMaio raised First Amendment and public transparency concerns and Assemblymember Patterson questioned the bill’s limits on protest and publication. Because the committee initially lacked a quorum, several bills were heard and later voted on once quorum was established. Members generally praised the bills and, in some cases, requested to be added as coauthors. When votes were taken, AB 1861, AB 1744, AB 2143, and AB 2624 all passed out of committee, with AB 2624 receiving 11 aye votes and 2 no votes; the others were reported out on unanimous or near-unanimous votes. The committee then adjourned.
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee Mar 4th, 2026

Finance and Taxation Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c><00:13:35.279><c> being</c> uh because of my limited time of being uh because of my limited time
  • But do you all have a kind of a messed up copy of 342, the next bill?
  • But do you all have a kind of a messed up copy of 342, the next bill?
  • one of those uh it's of years and that's one of those uh it's really<00:21:55.039><c> hard</c><00:21
  • </c> the section of the code. the section of the code.
Bills: HB125 , HB116 , HB183 , HB342 , HB341 , SB280 , SB245 , SB159 , HB125 , HB116 , HB183 , HB342 , HB341 , SB280 , SB245 , SB159
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Education Policy Committee Feb 4th, 2026

Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • lengths of time. This will standardize lengths of time.
  • A lot of these gu all of the quality.
  • </c><00:10:18.720><c> early</c> of education, the department of early of education, the department of
  • </c><00:12:33.839><c> Uh</c> some of the excess of it. Uh some of the excess of it.
  • of the the rigidity of the of the um of the the standards<00:14:50.959><c> that</c><00:14:51.120><c>
Bills: HB329 , HB8 , HB353 , HB329 , HB8 , HB353 , HB50 , HB78 , HB225 , SB75 , SB209 , HB50 , HB78 , HB225 , SB75 , SB209
AL

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

Alabama House Children and Senior Advocacy Committee Feb 4th, 2026

Children and Senior Advocacy

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> be part of be part of violence?
  • CDC says 31% of all teenage girls have anxiety, 25% of all teenage girls have depression. 12% of all
  • So that's the gist of HB 170. to all of their money. But if a child to all of their money.
  • years. right now of of influencers that are right now of of influencers that are making<00:35:01.359
  • of</c><00:53:28.240><c> our</c> our of our our of our &gt;&gt; It<00:53:28.800><c> is.
Bills: HB19 , HB170 , HB171 , HB173 , HB174 , HB19 , HB170 , HB171 , HB173 , HB174
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Apr 16th, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • the State Bar of Texas in consultation with the Texas Secretary of State.
  • the State Bar of Texas.
  • These scams have successfully contacted victims out of millions of dollars.
  • of constituents.
  • The bill allows for a penalty of 125% of the actual collected money.