Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Leah Hebert Wells, and I am the CEO of Open Arms of Minnesota.
• <00:52:09.120> are organizations like Open Arms are organizations like Open Arms are uniquely
• with Open Arms Minnesota. with Open Arms Minnesota.
• I had a chance last fall to go visit the Open Arms location in St.
• Without those dollars, the food security Without those dollars, the food security system<01:08:38.880

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , private securities contain securities, private securities contain lots<05:32:58.638> of<05:32
• :07:57.920> from would exempt IDA securities from would exempt IDA securities from securities<
• Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, just as other World Bank arms have been exempt for decades
• This bill simply exempts IDA securities from SEC regulations, aligning with other World Bank arms which
• This bill simply exempts IDA securities from SEC regulations, aligning with other World Bank arms which

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, July 21, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, cash handling comes with elevated security risks, Cash handling comes with elevated
• security risks, added costs, including theft and loss, as well as operational burdens, as we've heard
• And secure payments regardless of their customers' financial institutions.
• That convenience improves security and speed at the merchant level, but it also comes with fees that
• That's why I was recommending using the adoption of the QR pay codes because it is a much more secure

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Legislative Commission on the Future of Payments and Sales Transactions by Credit Card and the Impacts for Small Businesses held a public hearing focused on interchange fees, sales tax and tip processing, chargebacks, fraud, surcharging, and the broader future of payment systems. Chair Paul Feeney and co-chair Rep. Jamie Murphy opened by explaining the commission’s charge and inviting testimony from small businesses, industry groups, banks, and policy experts. Representative Sean Garballey testified first, arguing that Massachusetts tourism depends on universal card acceptance and stable interchange, and urging the commission not to disrupt the current system ahead of major events expected to bring millions of visitors to the Commonwealth. A large portion of the hearing featured independent restaurant owners and advocates describing thin margins and the burden of paying percentage-based processing fees on sales tax and tips that are not business revenue. Jen Ziskin, Kristen Canty, Nancy Cushman, Kerry Colzer, and others said restaurants often operate on very small profits and that processing fees on taxes and gratuities can amount to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Ryan Lotz also urged reforms to chargebacks, including refunding chargeback fees when merchants prevail, requiring consumers to contact businesses before disputing charges, and limiting repeat abuse. Commission members pressed witnesses on whether tax and tip amounts could be separated at the point of sale, and several witnesses said current consumer card systems do not transmit that level of detail. Testimony from credit union, banking, and payments representatives largely opposed state-level changes that would carve out taxes or tips from interchange, warning of compliance burdens, higher costs, reduced rewards, and possible effects on fraud protection and access to credit. Alex Verine of America’s Credit Unions and Deb Peters and Keely McEwen of the Electronic Payments Coalition said the payment system is complex, that interchange funds fraud prevention and network infrastructure, and that new state mandates could create operational and legal uncertainty. Dan Swanson argued states have authority to act and pointed to Illinois litigation and federal court rulings, while Julian Morris and Brad Popolado emphasized the benefits of card acceptance, the decline of cash, and the need to consider other payment methods and check fraud as well. Several witnesses discussed international payment systems, instant payments, and QR standards as possible future directions. The chairs and members engaged in extended back-and-forth with witnesses about whether Massachusetts could exempt sales tax from swipe fees, whether surcharging should be revisited, and whether vendor compensation or other targeted relief might be more workable than broad changes to interchange. No votes were taken. At the close of the hearing, the chairs said the commission would hold one additional public hearing date to be determined, after which members would begin developing next steps and a report.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the Florida Bar is an arm of the Florida Supreme Court.
• The Florida Bar is an arm of the Florida Supreme Court.
• The Florida Bar is an arm of the Florida Supreme Court.
• So if a client has lost money as a consequence of interacting with a lawyer, we have a client security
• This is a little bit out of that space because we're an arm of the court; we have this...

Summary: The Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee met with a quorum and took up House Bill 413, relating to attorney’s fees, suit money, and costs in family law cases. Representative Gottlieb explained that the bill and strike-all amendment were intended to promote fairness, create more uniformity across circuits, expand judicial discretion in awarding fees, and strengthen enforcement language. Members discussed how the amendment’s reference to good-faith settlement offers would apply only after trial in fee determinations, not during the trial itself. Jamie Epstein of the Florida Bar’s Family Law Section supported the measure overall, saying it would improve consistency and deter bad-faith litigation, but noted concern about one paragraph creating a presumption of entitlement to fees in contempt actions. The committee adopted the strike-all amendment and then passed HB 413 favorably as amended by a 13-0 vote. Chair Koster said the bill would provide needed clarification in family law practice and help parties litigate more professionally and amicably. After the vote, the committee heard a presentation from Florida Bar President Sayah Baker Barnes on the Florida Bar’s role and the impact of artificial intelligence on the legal profession. Baker Barnes described the Florida Bar as an arm of the Florida Supreme Court responsible for regulating lawyers, protecting the public, handling discipline, reimbursing some victims of lawyer theft through the client security fund, and providing continuing legal education. She said AI use among lawyers has grown rapidly and that the Bar has created committees, guidance, and an ethics opinion to help lawyers use AI responsibly. She emphasized that lawyers remain responsible for the accuracy of AI-generated citations and work product, noted that Florida courts have already disciplined lawyers and a pro se litigant for fake AI-generated citations, and discussed confidentiality, privilege, and deepfake concerns. Members asked about protecting client information and finding best-practice resources, and she directed them to the Bar’s LegalFuel site and AI guidance materials. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• July of 2025, we were able to secure July of 2025, we were able to secure historic<00:06:42.639>
• people, strengthen our border security people, strengthen our border security policies,<00:06:46.960
• Let us rededicate and our security.
• of Homeland Security Investigations. of Homeland Security Investigations.
• <05:14:02.240> family<05:14:02.480> and secure access to lawyers, family and secure

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's about national security.
• consumers and our national security consumers and our national security interests<03:17:18.080><
• melts down, there is no security.
• true energy policies, national security true energy policies, national security par<04:27:03.359
• hand of friendship or offer an arm hand of friendship or offer an arm around<05:39:18.320> the

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, September 18, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Armed and unarmed security services around the National Park campus and facilities. 66, National Park
• College with Allied Universal Security.
• Armed and unarmed security services around the National Park campus and facilities. 67, Northwest Arkansas
• Contract 57, also with DWS, with Quality Security Service, is for security guard services.
• Contract 64, Department of Education with Umbrella Security, is for armed security services in their

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, I move that further proceedings under the roll call be dispensed with and that the sergeant-at-arms
• So, we're draining the Social Security fund for our seniors.
• <00:20:46.000> numbers<00:20:46.960> and<00:20:47.200> they're social security
• numbers and they're social security numbers and they're checking<00:20:47.760> out<00:20:47.919
• uh fund for our security uh fund for our seniors.<00:20:55.360> We<00:20:55.600> didn't,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• THE COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS, SPACE AND DOMESTIC SECURITY WILL NOW COME TO ORDER.
• FORCES OR TO WEAR THE UNIFORM OR INSIGNIA OF SPECIFIED ARMED FORCES UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.
• THE MAJOR CHANGES RESIDENT LIST EACH INDIVIDUAL BRANCH OF THE STATUTE WILL REFER TO ARMED FORCES AS DEFINED
• THE BILL ENTERS THE SAME BRANCHES ARMED FORCES ARE LISTED IN EACH PROVISION OF THE STATUTE.
• ARMED FORCES INCLUDES UNITED STATES ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINE CORPS, SPACE COAST AND COAST GUARD.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• booed committee members for simply asking questions, despite repeated reminders from the sergeant-at-arms
• committee members were booed for simply asking questions, despite repeated reminders from the sergeant-at-arms

Bills: SB2347, SB2911, SB2033, SB2158, SB2993, SB2778, SB2672, SB2014, SB3144, SB3096, SB3097, SB2968, SB2363, SB3154, SB2400, SB3313, SB2896, SB3279, SB2614, SB2687, SB2754, SB2549, SB3325, SB2658, SB2659, SB2602, SB2611, SB2877, SB3063, SB2615, SB3232, SB2875, SB3272, SB2854, SB3203, SB2803, SB2804, SB3302, SB3229, SB2969, SB2412, SB2657, SB2880, SB2540, SB2414, SB3142, SB3202, SB2281, SB2852, SB2272, SB2479, SB2589, SB2936, SB2720, SB2730, SB2749, SB2688, SB2798, SB3040, SB3107, SB3010, SB3109, SB3140, SB3187, SB2057, SB2377, SB3048, SB3083, SB3182

Keywords: tenant rights, landlord obligations, housing crisis, eviction prevention, multilingual access, intoxicating liquor, direct shipment, breweries, distilleries, Hawaii, renewable energy, grid-ready homes, interconnection process, electric utility, energy independence, surcharge, customer access, energy storage, smart inverters, veterinary workforce

Transcript Highlights:

• And so they contract with us through the fat arm and then they are responsible for providing all the
• It also addresses domestic security issues that we face every day.
• Last year, our agents develop criminal intelligence on the group who was committing armed robberies in
• They got these guys on their way to go commit another armed robbery, violent armed robbery and they took
• Next, our turn to violence, prevention and domestic security.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• and strengthen our national security. and strengthen our national security.
• > protect<00:09:49.200> our Livestock bio security to protect our Livestock bio security
• members of the United States Armed members of the United States Armed Forces<00:21:25.360> gave
• the loving arms of our Lord and Savior. the loving arms of our Lord and Savior.
• The security of our mobile networks and devices is paramount to American security overall.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, July 14, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, border security is homeland security.
• > homeland Speaker, border security is homeland Speaker, border security is homeland security.
• , cyber security, disaster response, aviation security, maritime security, and other critical missions
• and Infrastructure Security Security and Infrastructure Security Agency,<02:56:45.920> US<02:56
• , aviation security, disaster security, aviation security, disaster response,<03:28:01.520> and

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Funding has been secured to protect 10 acres of prairie on the campus.
• So funding has been secured to protect 10 acres of prairie on the prairie conservation parcel.
• So funding has been secured to protect 10 acres of prairie on the campus.
• Securing conservation easements is easier said than done for many reasons.
• We are on the Armed Services YMCA board, and they are anxiously launching their food bank.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs heard presentations on several military and veterans-related topics. Dr. Dan Calvert briefed the committee on the JBLM Sentinel Landscape Partnership, explaining its voluntary conservation work to reduce encroachment around the base by protecting prairie habitat, supporting agriculture, and managing sensitive species. He described REPI funding, recent and proposed projects, and possible policy support such as state designation, dedicated funding, management endowments, prescribed fire flexibility, and water-right transfer tools. Members asked about seed sourcing, the distinction between natural-resource encroachment and development-related encroachment, and the impact of federal REPI staffing cuts. David Puente of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs updated the committee on plans for a new state veterans cemetery in the Tri-Cities area and a replacement Spokane Veterans Home. He said the cemetery project has two candidate sites near Richland/West Richland, with pre-design funded by the legislature and a future request expected for land purchase and construction; he also noted the current cemetery funding source is limited and would not support a second cemetery without additional state operating funds. On the Spokane home, he described the current facility’s limitations and said the replacement would be a 120-bed, small-house model on a larger site, with the VA expected to cover 65% of construction costs if the state provides the match. He also reviewed agency budget reductions, including vacant positions, reduced outreach, cuts to counseling and wellness funding, and reduced support for veterans service organizations. Blue Star Families’ Puget Sound chapter also presented on its programs for military-connected families, including Coffee Connects, a children’s book club, outdoor programming, career support, and Blue Star Welcome Week. The group said it is expanding beyond the South Sound and is using local outposts and online networks to reach more families, while also helping with food insecurity through grocery gift cards and partnerships with local nonprofits. Committee members discussed the need to expand the organization statewide and the ongoing food-security challenges facing military families. During the final discussion on potential legislation, members raised ideas including restoring Washington National Guard retention efforts, expanding E-CAP eligibility to military families, revisiting the composition of the Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee, and addressing veterans’ preference issues for service members who have not yet received a DD-214. The committee did not take any formal votes or actions, but members and presenters discussed future policy and budget requests, and the chairs thanked the presenters and staff before adjourning.

Transcript Highlights:

• He was a designer of the first hydrogen bomb, a pioneer in national security and arms control, and a
• HE WAS A DESIGNER OF THE FIRST HYDROGEN BOMB, A PIONEER IN NATIONAL SECURITY AND ARMS CONTROL, AND A
• AND EFFICIENT BUT ALSO SECURE FROM FOREIGN THREATS.
• Put down our arms on this trash.
• Put down our arms on this trash.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, June 9, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• 35.720> representative representative hu yes representative representative hu yes representative arms
• > yes<00:10:37.639> representative<00:10:38.079> Layman<00:10:39.040> yes arms
• yes representative Layman yes arms yes representative Layman yes representative<00:10:40.200> Lewis
• hazardous material<00:13:17.279> endorsement<00:13:18.120> threat<00:13:18.560> security
• material endorsement threat security material endorsement threat security assessment<00:13:20.040

Keywords: Roll Call 00:32 Approval of Minutes 01:38 HB 20 Discussion 02:08 HB 20 Vote 06:00 HB 188 Discussion 07:07 HB 188 Vote 10:10 Administrative Regs 11:09, 958, all

Summary: The House Transportation Committee met with a quorum, approved the previous meeting’s minutes, and heard two House bills plus several Transportation Cabinet regulations. House Bill 20, sponsored by Rep. Hodson, would restrict the retention and sale of automated license plate reader data, limit storage to 60 days, and prohibit nonconsensual tracking devices such as micro-trackers and subcutaneous trackers. Hodson said the bill was aimed at protecting citizens’ privacy and noted it had passed the House previously; members asked about enforcement and deletion responsibility, and one member suggested criminal penalties might be worth considering in the future. The committee voted to report HB 20 favorably. House Bill 188, sponsored by Rep. Duvall, addressed driveaway plate businesses that transport vehicles for others. Duvall said Kentucky law had created confusion about how many vehicles could be on the road and had driven up insurance costs, hurting a Warren County business; the bill would let such companies purchase the exact number of plates needed, which he said would reduce exposure and premiums. He emphasized the bill would not affect dealer tags or trailer transport and said he was working on a floor amendment to make that clear. The committee reported HB 188 favorably as well. The committee then reviewed five administrative regulations, including Transportation Cabinet rules allowing technology to be used in title examinations, extending an off-road vehicle pilot program to July 2026 and updating the definition of local government, aligning truck weight-mass rules with statute, adopting the MUTCD traffic control manual, and an emergency Kentucky State Police regulation adjusting a TSA-related hazardous materials endorsement fee because the federal change came too quickly for the normal regulatory process. Members asked whether the title rule covered rebuild titles, and staff said it applied to all titles. The committee noted the regulations had been reviewed and then adjourned, with the next meeting tentatively set for the following Tuesday.

Transcript Highlights:

• Articles and books on national security, law, and governance.
• The President authorized up to 20,000-plus National Guardsmen and women to secure any security measures
• Who did the Sergeant at Arms report to? The Speaker of the House.
• The Sergeant at Arms, yes, Senator, reports up there.
• And Americans' national security.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our mission is simple at FDLE: to promote public safety and strengthen domestic security.
• security within our state.
• There, they have responsibility for facilities management, security of the district courts.
• We weren't able to secure a conviction.
• And then that next victim is at the hands of somebody that... ...able to secure a conviction.

Summary: The Justice Budget Subcommittee met for an introductory overview of the justice budget and the major agencies within it. Chair Maney explained that the committee would hear broad presentations rather than detailed budget questions, and the first panel included the Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Corrections, Commission on Offender Review, Department of Law Enforcement, Office of the State Courts Administrator, and the Attorney General’s Office. Each agency described its mission, staffing, budget, and major responsibilities, with repeated emphasis on public safety, rehabilitation, staffing shortages, technology needs, and the importance of mental health services and education in reducing recidivism. Secretary Hall described DJJ’s prevention-to-aftercare continuum, including civil citation, detention, probation, and residential commitment programs, and highlighted reductions in juvenile arrests and commitments. Secretary Dixon said DOC’s biggest issues are staffing, overtime, and inflation, while noting progress in education, reentry, and a low recidivism rate. FDLE Commissioner Glass outlined the agency’s investigative, forensic, intelligence, and protective functions, including work on fentanyl enforcement and crime reporting systems. The State Courts Administrator emphasized the judiciary’s constitutional role, case volume, and challenges in providing interpreters, experts, and technology support. Chief Deputy Attorney General Guard described the office’s litigation, criminal appeals, consumer protection, and opioid recovery work, especially defending state laws and recovering opioid settlement funds. Members then asked questions about prison conditions, immigration enforcement, court filing fees, crime reporting, staffing ratios, and transnational gangs. Agency leaders responded that they were not aware of ICE contracts in some cases, that FDLE works with immigration authorities and detention facilities under existing authority, and that filing fees are a legislative policy decision. The committee also heard from the Justice Administrative Commission, prosecutors, public defenders, guardian ad litem, regional conflict counsel, and capital collateral regional counsel, who focused on indigent representation, dependency and death penalty cases, and persistent staffing and retention problems. No votes were taken, and the meeting concluded after the presentations and questions.

Bills: SB1734, SB1630, SB1894, SB1975, SB1432, SB1437, SB1812, SB346, SB1250, SB710, SB1489, SB2045, SB1614

Keywords: artificial intelligence, AI, schools, public school districts, education technology, edtech, student privacy, FERPA, data privacy, data security, emerging technologies, machine learning, generative AI, classroom technology, instructional technology, teacher oversight, human-in-the-loop, student data, parental consent, opt-out

Bills: SB372, SB1224, SB1232, SB1264, SB1330, SB1381, SB1441, SB1450, SB1589, SB1618, SB1936, SB1980, SB2011, SB2030

Keywords: SB372, firearms, gun rights, lawful carry, concealed carry, open carry, handgun license, Oklahoma Self-Defense Act, weapons policy, gun law, school safety, private school, public school, college campus, university campus, technology center, courthouse, government buildings, municipal buildings, county courthouse