Video & Transcript Research : 'interstate cooperation'
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US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, May 20, 2026)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- nearby Phenix City, Alabama, whose work over the last nine years has advanced the effort to expand Interstate
- congressionally authorized studies and I-14's designation as a congressionally authorized future interstate
- I yield back. interstates, including I-14. These high interstates, including I-14.
- I-14's expansion to Georgia will<00:15:33.680>
provide <00:15:33.920>interstate <00:15:34.399 - >
access <00:15:34.720>to will provide interstate access to will provide interstate access
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Public Safety Committee Meeting - 2025-04-09
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a program across the state for the interstate compact unit that oversees the transfers of supervision
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Appropriation and Revenue. (3-4-26)
Transcript Highlights:
- or is, you know, I've had an infant who threw their cochlear implant processor out the window on Interstate
- processor out the cochlear implant processor out the window<00:39:18.280>
on <00:39:18.400>Interstate - <00:39:20.040>
So, <00:39:20.600>we <00:39:20.720>hear window on Interstate - So, we hear window on Interstate 64.
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Roll Call 00:00:10
SB 6 Discussion 00:40
SB 6 Vote 00:13:30
Cochlear Implants 00:16:25, 958, all
Summary:
The Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee heard Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers, which would create an endowed research fund to support collaborative university research in Kentucky. Stivers described the bill as an extension of earlier higher-education research efforts, arguing that Kentucky should build research “hubs” by requiring or encouraging partnerships among universities and outside entities, with potential focus areas including health care, engineering, aerospace, agriculture, and other emerging fields. He said the proposal would establish five research tranches over five years and sought a $30 million endowment for each, generating annual interest to fund consortium-based research and leverage additional private and federal dollars. Senators Frommeyer, Neal, Givens, Boswell, and Richardson spoke in support, emphasizing economic development, job creation, and examples from other research clusters such as Boston and North Carolina’s Research Triangle. The committee voted 12-0 to report the bill favorably to the Senate floor.
The committee then received a presentation from Dr. Matthew Bush of the University of Kentucky on pediatric hearing loss and cochlear implants. Bush explained that early hearing detection and intervention is critical because hearing loss in newborns is a neurocognitive emergency that affects language, literacy, and long-term outcomes. He outlined national screening benchmarks, Kentucky’s incidence of childhood hearing loss, and the high educational and societal costs of untreated hearing loss. Bush also highlighted disparities in rural and western Kentucky, where children face delayed diagnosis, longer waits for hearing aids or cochlear implants, and more difficulty accessing follow-up care. He described cochlear implants, the multidisciplinary care they require, and research showing improved language development, quality of life, and cost savings when children are treated early.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
- Much of that need is along our interstates and concentrated in the Louisville area, northern Kentucky
- need<00:24:55.600>
is <00:24:55.840>along <00:24:56.080>our <00:24:56.320>interstates - <00:24:56.880>
and need is along our interstates and need is along our interstates and concentrated
Summary:
The Transportation Committee met to review the Transportation Cabinet’s budget request and the recommended highway plan; no votes were taken. Secretary Jim Gray opened with praise for KYTC snow and ice crews, describing their response to recent winter storms and noting the scale of the effort, including about 2,300 workers, 1,438 pieces of equipment, and more than 948,000 miles driven in the first week. He then outlined the cabinet’s overall highway plan, saying it includes more than 1,300 projects and about $9.5 billion in anticipated state and federal funding over six years, with roughly 40% directed to existing pavements, bridges, and guardrails. He highlighted major priority projects such as the Mountain Parkway four-laning, the Brent Spence Companion Bridge, and the I-69 Ohio River crossing.
Budget director Sean McCarron explained that the cabinet adjusted its request after the Consensus Forecast Group lowered road fund revenue estimates, and said the cabinet only included additional requests it viewed as essential. He described requests to support driver licensing regional offices, including funding to maintain temporary and contract staff used to reduce wait times, expand offices from 35 to 41 locations, and support improved customer service; he warned that without the current-year increase, wait times would rise again. He also discussed maintenance funding, saying the proposed increases would help cover rising costs for salt, snow and ice drivers, and mowing, while allowing continued litter pickup, vegetation management, pothole repair, and more in-house snow and ice work.
Deputy Secretary Mike Hancock addressed specific capital questions, especially the Brent Spence Bridge and Cairo Bridge. For Brent Spence, he said the requested $125 million in general funds is needed because construction costs have risen sharply, citing a 61% increase in highway construction costs from 2020 to 2025, and said Kentucky and Ohio are both contributing to keep the project moving. He added that if the legislature does not provide the $125 million, KYTC would have to shift $100 million in federal highway funds and $25 million in state match from other projects. Hancock also reviewed several project reauthorizations for maintenance facilities and aviation projects, and noted a $5 million federally funded truck parking project aimed at addressing statewide truck parking shortages, especially along interstates and in areas such as Louisville, northern Kentucky, Frankfort, Somerset, and western Kentucky.
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
Public Health - Room 216, 27 January, 2026; 3:00 PM
Public Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- So, um, the reason I came across this discrepancy was, um, the National Interstate Council had sent out
- ><00:55:44.640>
national discrepancy was um the national discrepancy was um the national interstate - 46.800>
had <00:55:47.119>sent <00:55:47.359>out <00:55:47.599>requests interstate - council had sent out requests interstate council had sent out requests for<00:55:48.400>
subject<
Summary:
The committee first took up House Bill 3, a Medicaid and certificate-of-need measure described as a revised version of a bill vetoed by the governor the previous year. The bill would remove a prohibition on a psychiatric residential treatment facility in one county from Medicaid participation, add 20 beds for a Madison County facility, allow crossover status for a Harrison County hospital, require MC to obtain a certificate of need for facilities outside the original Jackson campus area, increase capital expenditure limits, and remove the provision the governor had objected to. Members discussed whether the bill was really a study item or a substantive new requirement, especially a provision tied to acute adult psychiatric units treating uninsured patients or paying a fee. The chair explained the policy concern as preventing “cherry-picking” of insured patients and shifting more uncompensated care to public facilities. The committee voted that the title was sufficient and the ayes appeared to have it, then voted to rise and report.
The committee then heard Senate Bill 2453, a clarifying bill on window tinting/glazing exemptions. The sponsor explained that current law requires a physician’s affidavit for an exception, and the bill would clarify that licensed optometrists, along with physicians, may sign the affidavit for people whose eyes are sensitive to light. After brief questions, the committee again voted that the title was sufficient and the ayes appeared to have it. The chair said the two bills were being moved quickly to the docket room for processing and that the committee would reconvene immediately afterward.
The final portion of the meeting was a hearing on Senate Bill 2566 involving the Board of Cosmetology and Barbering. The chair explained that the hearing was prompted by complaints from last session about inspectors being overly aggressive, fines for technical violations, and delays or problems with licensing. Board representatives said the newly appointed board had met for the first time, elected officers, and intended to focus on workforce development, easing burdens on the industry, and protecting public health and safety. They said the board had already restored prior passing scores for exams, adjusted work-permit timing to help students, reviewed contracts and staffing, and planned further meetings. Members and the chair discussed possible legislative changes, including mobile barber establishments, reducing fines, and extending license terms from two years to three years, with the chair asking the board to work with Senator Johnson on amendments before the deadline.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation (10-15-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- And this is technological, uh, items to prevent, um, vehicles from entering, uh, like interstates or
- uh<00:10:32.480>
like vehicles from entering uh like vehicles from entering uh like interstates - c> parkways<00:10:33.839>
or <00:10:34.079>other <00:10:34.240>limited interstates - or parkways or other limited interstates or parkways or other limited access<00:10:34.959>
facilities
Keywords:
00:05 Call to Order and Roll Call
01:20 Road Projects
46:30 Approval of Minutes
46:50 Railroads
57:26 Adjournment, 958, all
Summary:
The Budget Review Subcommittee on Transportation met without a quorum, so it could not approve the minutes. The chair announced an Eastern Kentucky University health forum later that day and then proceeded with testimony on alternative delivery methods for road projects. Jason Sawala of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Chad Laroo of the Kentucky Association of Highway Contractors were sworn in and introduced themselves.
Sawala explained KYTC’s use of alternative delivery tools, including design-build, construction manager/general contractor (CMGC), and public-private partnerships (P3s). He said the cabinet’s goal is to deliver the best value to taxpayers in terms of quality, cost, and time, and emphasized that alternative delivery is most useful on projects with special circumstances such as innovation needs, specialized technology, complex constructibility, schedule pressure, or early contractor input. He cited the cabinet’s wrong-way driving prevention project as an example where design-build helped evaluate technologies and coordinate with stakeholders such as EMS and first responders.
He also outlined the main tradeoffs: alternative delivery can improve collaboration and sometimes accelerate schedules, but it also brings risks related to right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, changing scope, and the need for dedicated staff and compressed decision-making. He stressed that these methods are not a cure-all and are not appropriate for every project, while noting that traditional design-bid-build remains effective for most of KYTC’s work.
Representative Branscum responded favorably, saying early contractor involvement is valuable and consistent with his experience in the vertical construction world. No votes or formal actions were taken because the committee lacked a quorum.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Conference Committee on HF2432 5/7/25
Transcript Highlights:
- They require that all counties share the costs on the interstate transfer unit.
- ><00:48:02.880>
uh counties share the costs on the uh counties share the costs on the uh interstate - <00:48:04.960>
They <00:48:05.200>modify interstate transfer unit. - They modify interstate transfer unit.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- are we paying for double the inspectors when they're doing the same job, unless because of the interstate
- <00:24:56.440>
because <00:24:56.640>of <00:24:56.760>the <00:24:56.880>interstate - job unless because of the interstate job unless because of the interstate commerce<00:24:58.399>
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- We work with our own districts on on investments on projects like Interstate 40.
- got funding going on coming south of the Dallas Fort Worth area and going north out of Houston interstate
- So. interstate law for most of our state highways, non-federal interstates. utilities have the opportunity
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on State Government (2-12-26)
State Government
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:23:28.000>
the more convenient, we now have the more convenient, we now have the interstate - system<00:23:29.919>
uh <00:23:30.080>whereas <00:23:30.559>previously interstate - system uh whereas previously interstate system uh whereas previously folks<00:23:31.840>
coming
Keywords:
Consideration of HB 10 -- 00:03:22
Consideration of HB 456 -- 00:20:47
Consideration of HB 480 -- 00:31:24, 958, all
Summary:
The House State Government Committee met and first considered House Bill 10, sponsored by Rep. Hodgson, as amended by a committee substitute. The bill was described as a transition-period ethics and accountability measure for statewide executive offices. It would require preservation of certain records such as emails and texts related to appointments, permits, pardons, contracts, and settlements; create whistleblower immunity for people providing credible evidence of wrongdoing; add extra review for large settlements and certain no-bid contracts; and extend probation periods for some employees who move back into merit positions near an administration change. Members raised concerns about constitutional issues, the Attorney General’s role, the whistleblower immunity provision, and the impact on merit-system employees and subject-matter experts. The committee substitute was adopted, the bill passed the committee 16-0 with four members passing, and a title amendment was also adopted.
The committee then took up House Bill 456, sponsored by Rep. Freeland and presented with Deputy State Treasurer Russell Weber. The bill would designate the fourth week of September as Unclaimed Property Week, remove the requirement that the state treasurer live in Franklin County, allow mineral proceeds such as unpaid royalties to be reported as unclaimed property, and require more complete reporting information from holders. Supporters said the changes would help publicize unclaimed property and improve the return of funds to Kentuckians, noting that the office has returned about $88 million so far. Questions focused on why the residency requirement existed, whether the new week would limit claims, and whether the bill treated all constitutional officers consistently. The sponsor said the week was only promotional and claims could still be filed year-round.
During discussion of House Bill 456, the chair asked the sponsor to look into a past $250,000 embezzlement reference mentioned in debate. The bill was then put to a roll call vote and passed the committee with 16 yes votes and four pass votes, and the committee moved a title amendment as well.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE May 21st, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- to do, and that's your home headquarters there, with the encampments that I've seen there along Interstate
- to do, and that's your home headquarters there, with the encampments that I've seen there along Interstate
Summary:
The committee first heard a presentation on homelessness in Arkansas, with speakers from law enforcement, behavioral health, homeless service providers, and policy groups. Presenters argued that Arkansas should focus more on treatment, accountability, better data, and stronger coordination among providers, and they highlighted the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) model as a way to expand Medicaid-reimbursed crisis, mental health, substance use, jail-based, and homeless outreach services. Testimony emphasized that Arkansas has relatively low overall homelessness numbers but a significant unsheltered population with serious mental illness or substance use disorders, and several members asked about sex offender tracking, provider accountability, statewide coordination, and whether the state could apply for federal funding or a statewide continuum of care arrangement. Speakers also discussed workforce supports, family homelessness, and the need for more transparent reporting and outcomes-based funding.
The committee then reviewed several Department of Energy and Department of Health/Board of Nursing rules. DEQ sought to raise the threshold for commission review of certain post-closure cleanup expenditures from $50,000 to $2 million to match Act 791 of 2025, and members asked about financial assurance and oversight; the rule was reviewed without objection. The Board of Nursing presented multiple rule changes implementing recent acts, including adding fees for dialysis patient care technician registration, updating contact-information requirements, clarifying APRN authority to sign death certificates and prescribe certain durable medical equipment, implementing delegation of certain nursing tasks to unlicensed workers, adding a declaratory-order process, revising certified medication assistant training and insulin-injection authority, and conforming independent-practice rules for clinical nurse specialists. Each nursing rule was reviewed without objection after brief questions.
In closing remarks, Senator Irvin announced that UAMS had completed its National Cancer Institute designation submission, calling it an important step for the state. The committee then adjourned.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Feb 12th, 2026
Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- is that the original bill said that the project had to be in a location that's accessible to an interstate
- is that the original bill said that the project had to be in a location that's accessible to an interstate
Keywords:
negligence, settlement, appropriation, highway safety, damages, law enforcement, motorcycle accident, compensation, Department of Transportation, legal claim, land use, development, sustainability, environmental protection, housing policy, labor pool, employment, temporary work, placement fee, Department of Commerce
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard several bills and reported most of them favorably. The first major measure, CS/SB 1220, was described as a broad transportation package expanding FDOT authority over trails, seaports, aviation, advanced air mobility, delivery devices, and related technology, while also addressing toll revenue use, autonomous vehicle penalties, digital driver licenses, and an FDOT study on alternative-fuel vehicles. An amendment narrowed some provisions, including local regulation of personal delivery devices and FDOT airport language. Senator Smith and others raised concerns about language involving FDOT assistance to local governments on federal grant applications, but the bill passed unanimously after support from industry and local-government appearance cards.
The committee also approved SB 1112, the Labor Pool Act, which would prohibit labor pools from charging placement fees when workers are hired permanently by a third-party employer and require annual registration with the Department of Commerce. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would reduce barriers to full-time employment, improve oversight, and help returning citizens and low-wage workers; multiple witnesses testified in support, including labor advocates and individuals describing high placement fees. Senators from both parties praised the bill’s worker and reentry benefits, and it passed unanimously. The committee then favorably reported SB 2, a claims bill for the estate of Danielle Maudsley arising from a fatal FHP arrest incident and settlement, and SB 26, another claims bill providing relief for the estate of Mark Legata after alleged FDOT negligence.
Senate Bill 1352 on motor vehicles also passed without opposition. It would create a secure online portal for license plate seizure processing, allow disabled veterans to retain their DV plate designation upon reissuance or transfer, ban license plate covers and similar devices that obscure plates, and route certain online driver license and ID transactions through county tax collectors. SB 1192, a customer service pilot requiring callback queues for certain calls to the Department of Commerce and Department of Children and Families, was likewise reported favorably to improve response times and reduce hold times.
The most extensive debate centered on CS/SB 354, the Blue Ribbon Projects bill, which would create a new process for very large developments on 10,000-acre or larger parcels if the owner sets aside 60% of the land for conservation or reserve uses. Supporters said it was intended to promote long-range planning, preserve land, and provide certainty for infrastructure and services, while opponents from counties, planning groups, and environmental organizations argued it would preempt local land-use authority, weaken public participation, and allow conservation requirements to be too vague. An amendment added more detail, but concerns remained about administrative approval, timelines, and the definition of reserve areas. Despite opposition from some members, the committee reported the bill favorably on a divided vote. SB 1670 was temporarily postponed, and the committee adjourned after recording one member’s vote on SB 1220.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Jun 3rd, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm a former director of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission.
- rights settlement projects, and that will be through FY $28.5 million was for continued work on interstate
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- HB 19 would help us capitalize on our competitive advantages, including easy access to BNSF, Interstate
- And I think New Mexico is in the driver's seat with three— Major interstates, two class one railroads
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Joint Appropriations Jan 21st, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- to offer... ...to offer telehealth and those type of things to the rural communities through a cooperative
- Rough Rider network was established is so those facilities that are part of the network can work cooperatively
- Rough Rider will be, one of the reasons I think, can work cooperatively.
- wanted to travel from Bismarck to Pembina, from a trauma care point of view, should I take the interstate
Bills:
HB1623
Keywords:
HB 1623, North Dakota, rural health, rural health transformation program, medical facility infrastructure loan fund, medical facility infrastructure loan program, rural health loan program, Bank of North Dakota, Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, federal grant, health care infrastructure, rural hospitals, critical access hospitals, nonprofit health care providers, gap financing, loan fund, public health funding, healthcare financing, Medicaid
Summary:
The committee first heard House Bill 1624, the “Universal Lunch Bill,” from Rep. Mike Nathie. He argued the proposal should be placed in Century Code rather than the Constitution so future legislatures can adjust it if state finances tighten, and said the bill would start the program a year earlier with a $65 million appropriation for one school year. DPI testified that the estimate did not include nonpublic schools that do not participate, and members questioned the impact on Title I, free-and-reduced applications, private-school accountability, breakfast mandates for schools that do not currently serve breakfast, and whether the funding could come from the DPI budget or other sources. Supporters, including North Dakota United, the North Dakota Catholic Conference, a pediatrician, and the American Heart Association, said universal meals improve student health and learning, reduce family costs, and are better handled in statute than by constitutional amendment. No opposition testimony was offered, and the chair closed the hearing for later work-session action.
The committee then took up House Bill 1627, introduced by Rep. Tye Dressler, which would raise the income threshold for the state-funded school lunch program from 225% to 300% of poverty, with an estimated cost of about $7 million for 2026-27. Dressler said the bill is intended as a targeted, budget-friendly alternative to the ballot measure and emphasized that the state should maximize federal meal dollars while improving participation in the current program. Members questioned whether raising the threshold would actually increase utilization, whether a dollar amount would be clearer than a percentage, and how the change would affect federal reimbursements and application rates. DPI said it could quickly calculate additional percentage levels, and the chair closed the hearing, directing DPI to prepare more numbers for the work session.
Finally, the committee opened Senate Bill 2403, presented by Sen. Schiable, to create a short-term bridge-loan program for financially distressed hospitals, centered on Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin. The bill would authorize up to $5 million per loan, with a $10 million appropriation available on a first-come, first-served basis, and would run only through June 30, 2027. Schiable said the hospital’s debt and operating problems threaten local health care, ambulance service, and the community’s economy, and that the proposal was designed narrowly with Bank of North Dakota review to avoid creating a broad precedent. Committee members asked whether the appropriation could be reduced and whether the bank would still apply commercial feasibility and repayment standards; Schiable said yes, the bank would still evaluate the loan and could reject it if it was not sound.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
89th Legislative Session - Second Called Session Aug 28th, 2025
Texas House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, before we begin our calendar today, The chair asks for your cooperation in maintaining decorum
- Members, the Chair again asks for your cooperation in maintaining decorum, conducting today's debate
- Members, the Chair again asks for your cooperation in maintaining decorum as we go through this evening
- Every industry that depends on predictable rules in interstate commerce.
Keywords:
sex designation, restroom access, civil penalties, private civil right of action, women's privacy, abortion, healthcare, jurisdiction, civil action, qui tam, prohibition, state law, youth camp, safety regulations, advisory committee, child welfare, health standards, summer camp, camp safety, child abuse reporting
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate Chamber Jan 20th, 2026 at 05:10 pm
New Mexico Senate Floor Meeting
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Criminal Justice and Public Safety (01/30/2025)
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- 49.960>
authority <03:31:50.439>to <03:31:50.640>regulate <03:31:51.479>interstate - the authority to regulate interstate the authority to regulate interstate commerce<03:31:52.920>
- We can know this firmly, as they used the word among the states to represent interstate commerce, not
- <03:34:26.439>
commerce <03:34:27.399>not <03:34:27.680>the represent interstate - commerce not the represent interstate commerce not the word<03:34:28.520>
within <03:34:29.000
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Transportation Finance and Policy Working Group 1/15/25
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Trunk highways is the broad term used to describe a number of different highways that include interstates
- Trunk highways is the broad term used to describe a number of different highways that include interstates
- Trunk highways is the broad term used to describe a number of different highways that include interstates
- Trunk highways is the broad term used to describe a number of different highways that include interstates
- is the trunk highway system—basically everything labeled with either a U.S. highway shield, an interstate
Summary:
The Transportation Working Group met on January 15, 2025, with Chair John Kosnik opening by saying the committee expected to pass a transportation bill this year and emphasizing efficient use of transportation revenues, maintenance of roads and transit, and safety. Members and staff introduced themselves, and several representatives noted their interest in roads, bridges, and regional transportation needs. Kosnik also said he had spoken with Representative Kel about leadership arrangements and stressed that bipartisan support would be needed for a transportation bill.
House Fiscal Staff’s Andrew Lee and House Research’s Matt Burus then gave an overview of transportation finance, focusing mainly on highways and transit. Burus explained Minnesota’s highway funding structure, including the constitutional Highway User Tax Distribution Fund and the related Trunk Highway Fund, County State-Aid Highway Fund, and Municipal State-Aid Street Fund. He reviewed the main revenue sources: the motor fuels tax, motor vehicle registration tax, motor vehicle sales tax, portions of the general sales tax tied to auto parts, vehicle rentals and leases, and the retail delivery fee. He noted several changes from 2023 legislation, including indexing of the gas tax, creation of the Transportation Advancement Account, and the retail delivery fee, which began in July 2024 and therefore would affect fiscal year 2025 rather than the fiscal 2024 data shown.
The presentation also covered how highway dollars flow through constitutional formulas, including the 95/5 split from the Highway User Tax Distribution Fund, with the 5 percent set-aside used for town roads, town bridges, and flexible highway purposes such as turnbacks. Burus distinguished trunk highway bonds from general obligation bonds and explained that both are debt-financing tools for transportation projects, but with different repayment sources and uses. No votes or formal actions were taken at this informational meeting.
DE
Delaware 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Legislative Session - Session 2 - 42nd Legislative Day Jun 30th, 2026
Delaware Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Ultimately, with the cooperation of Senator Hansen and working with Representative Heffernan, the business
- strengthens DIA's ability to enforce its rules and regulations by requiring member schools to fully cooperate
- respect to sale, because, you know, Congress in those acts is regulating items that are going into interstate
- Smith, Senator Poore, and others, an act to amend Title 24 of the Delaware Code relating to the interstate
- Michael Smith, Senator Poor and others, an act to amend title 24, the Delaware code relating to the interstate
Summary:
The Senate received communications from the House on numerous measures, including several bills and resolutions passed with amendments, committee reports on bills such as large energy use facilities, campaign finance, voting rights, and appropriations, and a list of pre-file legislation. The chamber then moved through a long floor session with confirmations, bill readings, and roll-call votes, ultimately confirming the nomination of Morgan T. Zern to the Delaware Supreme Court by a 21-0 vote.
Among the major policy items considered were property tax and school tax measures tied to the statewide reassessment. The Senate passed House Bill 460, clarifying monthly municipal permit-data reporting to New Castle County; House Bill 461, granting temporary authority for New Castle County school districts to reset school tax rates for one cycle; and House Bill 462, making the split school tax rate permanent with a lower nonresidential cap. Members discussed the fiscal effects at length, including testimony from a school district finance officer that HB 461 would allow revenue-neutral rate setting and offset the fiscal note on HB 462. The Senate also passed House Bill 365 creating a Delaware Indigenous Affairs Commission, House Bill 458 on backflow requirements for low-hazard buildings, Senate Bill 27 establishing the Office of New Americans with a sunset and interagency coordination, and Senate Bill 315 on the Delaware Technical Innovation Program.
The chamber also approved Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 300, a firearms dealer regulation bill, after extensive debate over amendments, confidentiality, background checks, and the balance between public safety and burdens on lawful dealers. Several members raised constitutional and practical objections, while supporters argued the bill would reduce trafficking, straw purchases, and theft from dealers. In addition, the Senate passed House Bill 305 creating a diabetes wellness pilot program, with supporters emphasizing the state’s diabetes burden and the program’s federal funding, and House Concurrent Resolution 157, which asks the State Lottery Office to report on iLottery’s impact on small businesses. Senate Bill 325, a fire prevention/background-check bill, was laid on the table after concerns about a late House amendment and requests for more time to consult stakeholders.