Video & Transcript : 'refiners' :

Page 61 of 163
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Law & Justice Feb 24th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • And I believe I do have language from Russ Brown on it, so there will be much more refined language on
Summary: The committee took executive action on a series of bills, beginning with Engrossed House Bill 2445 on heir finder services and probate. Members adopted Striking Amendment Alpha, which added definitions and guardrails for heir finder agreements, including written filing and court oversight requirements, and then advanced the bill as amended to the Rules Committee. A second proposed striker, Bravo, was rendered out of order after Alpha was adopted. On Engrossed House Bill 1574 concerning access to life-saving care and substance use services, the committee considered several competing amendments. Amendment Charlie was rejected, while Amendment Delta was adopted to narrow protections and add public health and syringe service program provisions. Amendment Echo, which would have limited distribution of drug testing equipment to health care facilities and excluded syringe and smoking equipment, was rejected. Amendment Foxtrot, dealing with fentanyl endangerment and parenting sentencing alternatives, was withdrawn after discussion and then incorporated into a new striking amendment; the bill as amended was sent to the Rules Committee. The committee also adopted a striking amendment on Second Substitute House Bill 2333, expanding protections for elected officials and prosecutors, including security provisions, address confidentiality, residential address redaction, and limited criminal history information sharing, and sent it to Ways and Means. The committee next acted on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2548 on health care market standards, adopting Amendment Hotel to exempt state-owned or state-operated entities and public hospital districts from filing fees, rejecting Amendment India on fee calculations and refunds, and then sending the bill as amended to Ways and Means. On Engrossed House Bill 2156 regarding Attorney General investigators, the committee rejected several amendments that would have limited criminal investigations, required additional certification, redirected recovered funds, or narrowed the definition of economic and financial crimes, then advanced the bill as amended to the Rules Committee. It also adopted striking amendments on Second Substitute House Bill 1909 creating a court unification task force and Substitute House Bill 2203 creating reckless interference with emergency operations, sending both bills onward. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2508 on the Office of Independent Investigations and Substitute House Bill 2248 on corporate filings were advanced without amendments, and the committee removed Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2095 on vulnerable users of public ways from the day’s exec list. The meeting ended with final votes, committee recommendations, and adjournment, marking the last Law and Justice Committee meeting of the 2026 session.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • Through targeted recruitment, contract refinement based on feedback, and dedicated ongoing technical
Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs considered three bills and a confirmation. On SB 1600, as amended, the sponsor explained that the original child welfare language was replaced with a strike-all requiring the Office of Insurance Regulation to work with DCF and community-based care lead agencies to study liability insurance coverage and availability, report findings to the Legislature by January 1, 2027, and allow penalties for failure to provide requested information. The committee adopted the amendment and amendment to the amendment, heard supportive testimony from child welfare advocates, and reported the committee substitute favorably. The committee also heard CS/SB 556, which would allow students with disabilities to satisfy a physical education graduation requirement through participation in Special Olympics, and clarify that two years of marching band participation can satisfy PE and fine arts credit. Special Olympics Florida, parents, and other supporters testified in favor, and the bill was reported favorably. On SB 794, the sponsor described requirements for background screening of employees in residential facilities and day training programs for people with developmental disabilities, plus a review of waiver support coordination quality, workforce needs, geographic service gaps, and related recommendations due in 2027. The committee adopted a conforming amendment and reported the bill. The committee then took up the confirmation of Taylor Hatch as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families. Hatch outlined DCF’s recent work on child welfare, behavioral health, peer support, and technology improvements, and answered questions about child welfare system challenges, funding formulas, opioid settlement dollars, and interoperability of agency systems. After public comment, the committee voted to recommend her confirmation favorably, with Chair Graal voting no. The meeting ended with a request to record one senator’s vote on SB 1600 and adjournment.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Feb 10th, 2026

Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Through targeted recruitment, contract refinement based on feedback, and dedicated ongoing technical
Bills: S0556 , S0794 , S1600
Summary: The Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs considered three bills and a confirmation. On SB 1600, the committee adopted a strike-all amendment and a technical amendment that shifted the bill from creating an accreditation process to requiring the Office of Insurance Regulation, DCF, and community-based care lead agencies to study liability insurance coverage and availability in the child welfare sector and report findings to the legislature by January 1, 2027; the bill also included enforcement provisions for failure to provide requested information. Support was noted from child and family advocacy groups, and the committee reported the bill favorably. The committee also heard CS for SB 556, which would allow students with disabilities to satisfy a physical education graduation requirement through participation in Special Olympics, if included in the student’s IEP, and would clarify that two years of marching band participation can satisfy both PE and fine arts credit. Special Olympics Florida, families, and other supporters testified in favor, emphasizing flexibility, access, and recognition of rigorous activity. The bill was reported favorably. The committee then considered CS for SB 794, which requires background screening for employees of residential facilities and day training programs serving people with developmental disabilities and directs a review of waiver support coordination, including quality, consistency, access, competencies, recruitment and retention, caseloads, and geographic gaps in services. An amendment to conform to the House version was adopted, and the bill was reported favorably. Members then questioned Secretary Taylor Hatch regarding her confirmation as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families. Senators raised concerns about child welfare system performance, parent notification and rights, CBC funding formulas, managing entities, opioid settlement spending, peer support expansion, and technology/interoperability improvements. Hatch described DCF’s recent data and initiatives, including reductions in out-of-home care entries, youth advisory efforts, missing children recovery operations, expanded behavioral health capacity, and technology upgrades for benefits processing. Public comment included support from family and provider organizations and concerns from a former foster care worker about medical misdiagnosis cases. The committee voted to recommend Hatch’s confirmation favorably, with Chair Grall voting no, and adjourned after allowing Senator Sharief to be recorded as voting in favor of SB 1600.
WA
Transcript Highlights:
  • So since NTIA to refine and meet our changing federal requirements, by our count, we have responded to
Summary: The committee first heard an update from the Department of Commerce’s new state broadband director on Washington’s BEAD broadband program and permitting process. Jordan Arnold said Washington’s final BEAD proposal has been submitted to NTIA but remains unapproved after months of back-and-forth over federal rule changes, technology choices, cost, and tribal sovereignty. He said the program is expected to bring about $1 billion in broadband investment, connecting roughly 166,000 homes and small businesses, with a mix of fiber, fixed wireless, and low-earth-orbit satellite. He also outlined permitting challenges, including rights-of-way and environmental/historic reviews, and said the office is working on permitting roundtables, federal coordination, and NEPA expertise to speed reviews. Members asked about the interaction of NEPA and SEPA, the reduction in deployable federal BEAD dollars, the long-term value of fiber versus other technologies, and possible coordination with other infrastructure permitting efforts. The committee then took executive action on House Bill 2684, which would add Middle Eastern and North African groups to the Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises’ socially disadvantaged certification framework. Four proposed amendments were considered and all failed: an amendment narrowing the rebuttable presumption to groups with specific current discrimination, an amendment requiring disaggregated subgroup data and limiting use of aggregated data, an amendment tying the rules to the state constitution, and two amendments requiring consistency with federal law and Attorney General review. After debate over whether the bill was too broad or needed more specificity, the committee voted 7-4 to report HB 2684 out with a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee unanimously approved House Joint Memorial 4012, which urges Congress to address the 20-year rule affecting certain combat-injured veterans and seeks parity in recognition and benefits. The memorial was reported out with a do pass recommendation by an 11-0 vote, with two members excused.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Civil Rights & Judiciary Feb 3rd, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • job balancing the concerns and the proponents' perspective here, and that it ultimately is a more refined
Summary: The Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee heard and acted on five bills. House Bill 2548, dealing with hospital and provider material change transactions, was presented with a proposed substitute that added disclosure requirements, quarterly AG website notices, filing fees, and nonprofit-related notice provisions while removing several original enforcement sections. Members debated the 25% ownership threshold and concerns about market effects, but the substitute passed 7-6 with a due pass recommendation. House Bill 2453 would allow board-certified psychiatric pharmacists to sign certain involuntary commitment and treatment-related petitions and opinions. Members said the bill was intended to expand access to treatment while preserving court decision-making authority, and it passed 8-5. House Bill 2640, addressing unauthorized UCC filings, would let the Department of Licensing refuse or terminate filings made to harass or defraud debtors; members described it as a Department of Licensing request bill, and it also passed 8-5. The committee then considered House Bill 2095 on vulnerable users of public ways. The proposed substitute created a rebuttable presumption of negligence against drivers, expanded protected areas, excluded motorcycles from the definition, and adjusted damages and education provisions. Members adopted several amendments, including an emergency-vehicle exemption and a reporting clarification, but rejected amendments that would have removed attorney fees, limited joint liability, or replaced the presumption with a direct civil action. The substitute passed 8-5. House Bill 2386, which removes statutory garnishment answer forms and directs the Washington Pattern Forms Committee to develop a form, passed 12-1. Finally, House Bill 2239, authorizing family burial grounds on private land, passed unanimously after a substitute added setbacks from water sources, local remediation procedures, burial reporting requirements, relocation permits, and seller disclosure language.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

December 9, 2025 - 12:30 PM

Transcript Highlights:
  • WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO REFINE THE BILL SO IT PROTECTS CONSUMERS WITHOUT
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Finance and Tax Nov 5th, 2025

Finance and Tax

Transcript Highlights:
  • take a slow and methodical and productive approach to try to really come up with a product that is refined
Summary: The Senate Committee on Finance and Tax met for its first meeting of the session, with a quorum present and several members excused. Chair Avila opened by framing the committee’s main focus as property tax relief and housing affordability, noting the complexity of any changes to Florida’s long-standing property tax structure and emphasizing the need to preserve funding for schools and local public safety. He also introduced new committee staff member Tamisha Black and thanked staff for summer work supporting analysis of potential proposals, including constitutional amendment concepts and other property tax relief ideas. Staff director Azar Khan then presented an update on the General Revenue forecast, explaining that collections remained above estimate but at a slower pace than the prior year, with recent economic indicators slightly weaker than earlier forecasts. He said the new forecast mostly reflected modest adjustments, with a notable share of the increase coming from earnings on investment rather than the usual drivers such as sales tax or corporate income tax. Khan also gave a detailed presentation on ad valorem millages, explaining the different millage types used by school districts, counties, municipalities, special districts, and water management districts; the rollback rate; TRIM notice and hearing timelines; voting thresholds for adopting higher millages; and long-term trends showing millage rates declining over time even as total taxes levied have increased. Members used the presentations to discuss property tax relief options and the relationship between local property taxes and state revenue. President Passidomo praised staff and Senator Bernard’s summer work on proposals. President Gaetz asked about converting homestead property tax revenue to sales tax and was told the rough equivalent could be around a 2.8-cent sales tax increase, though with important behavioral and distributional caveats. Senator Rouson asked about the decline in corporate income tax estimates, and Khan said it likely reflected changes in national corporate profit expectations and collection patterns, promising a follow-up. The Department of Revenue’s Lizette Kelly confirmed that TRIM data, including adopted millages, rollback rates, and maximum millage calculations, are collected by jurisdiction and can be provided to the committee. No bills were taken up and no votes occurred beyond adjournment, which was adopted by motion.
ND

North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Appropriations - Education and Environment Division Apr 15th, 2025 at 10:15 am

Appropriations - Education and Environment Division

Transcript Highlights:
  • Let's see what's working or not, and then maybe at the end of the day refine it down to one or two things
Bills: SB2003
Summary: The committee first reconsidered Senate Bill 2003 in the higher education budget and adopted several changes. It removed $3 million for enterprise resource planning, struck $2 million for a grant program for students who are pregnant or recently gave birth, and then added $3 million back into workforce education and innovative grants, restoring that line to $12 million. Members also discussed a possible purchase of the 19th Avenue building in Fargo for the State School of Science, but the motion was withdrawn for later consideration. Other higher ed items were briefly noted, including tribally controlled community colleges and a state magazine funding line, but no final action was taken on the building proposal during this segment. The committee then moved to Senate Bill 2018, the Commerce budget, and reviewed a long list of funding items. It restored a vacant workforce FTE, increased tourism marketing to $10 million and Find the Good Life to $5 million, raised Operation Intern by $1 million, removed a $100,000 infrastructure study, increased autonomous agriculture grants to $15 million, and set the Regional Workforce Impact Program at $10 million. It also kept or adjusted several other items, including the uncrewed aerial vehicle replacement program, the global talent office, tribally controlled community colleges, Native American small business grants, and technical skills training grants. A major new provision would transfer $50 million total, split between SIF and Bank of North Dakota profits, to the Theodore Roosevelt Library Museum Endowment Fund, matching a private fundraising challenge; members expressed both support and concern, and said they would revisit it later. The committee also discussed language to allow commercialization of Vantis and to permit the Turtle Mountain gaming compact proposal to move forward with required federal approvals, while clarifying that a previously discussed $100,000 study had been removed. Commerce officials said the workforce language was intended to centralize data and strategy, and they noted Operation Intern would need an emergency clause because applications begin in May. No final vote on the Commerce budget was taken in this segment, and the chair said the committee would return later to finish both budgets.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
  • This delete-everything amendment incorporates input from Florida Commerce, who has worked with us to refine
Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development considered a full agenda of transportation, economic development, housing, emergency services, and specialty license plate bills. Several measures were explained and advanced without opposition, including the Department of Transportation agency bill (CS/CS/SB 1662), a Purple Heart toll exemption bill (CS/SB 574), a Florida Highway Patrol specialty plate bill (CS/SB 824), a construction disruption assistance loan program for small businesses (CS/CS/SB 324), a manufactured housing assistance bill for local housing plans (CS/SB 1714), a foreign agents registration bill (CS/CS/SB 766), military academy specialty plates (CS/SB 1024), a Safe Coastal Wildlife specialty plate (CS/SB 1246), an emergency services warning-light bill (CS/SB 1644), the Florida Wildflower specialty plate (SB 1152), and a toll exemption bill for 100% disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients (CS/SB 532). The committee adopted amendments on several bills. On CS/CS/SB 1662, Senator Collins’ strike-all amendment made a range of DOT-related changes, including the Florida Transportation Academy, seaport and airport accountability provisions, and allowing cranes to move under special blanket permits at night. On CS/CS/SB 324, the committee adopted a delete-everything amendment and a further amendment removing liability language; the bill would create a revolving loan program for small businesses harmed by public works construction, with members raising concerns about eligibility, verification of losses, and public records issues for financial documents. On CS/SB 766, an amendment clarified definitions and aligned the bill with federal FARA standards, including a 20% beneficial ownership threshold. On CS/SB 532, an amendment added Purple Heart recipients to the toll exemption. Testimony and debate were generally supportive, with several outside witnesses appearing in favor of the bills, including Florida PBA, the Florida Manufactured Homeowners Federation, the Florida Manufactured Housing Association, the Center for Security Policy, and the Florida Wildflower Foundation. Members highlighted constituent impacts and policy concerns on a few measures, especially the construction disruption loan bill and the disabled veteran toll exemption, where some senators suggested narrowing the scope or adding protections. All bills considered were reported favorably, and senators later requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on selected tabs before the committee adjourned.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Apr 10th, 2025

Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • This delete-everything amendment incorporates input from Florida Commerce, who has worked with us to refine
Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development met to consider a full agenda of bills, beginning with CS/CS/SB 1662, the Department of Transportation agency bill. Senator Collins presented a strike-all amendment that retained creation of the Florida Transportation Academy, clarified the Florida Transportation Research Institute, restored legislative budget commission review for certain work program amendments, adjusted small-business and supply-chain grant provisions, added airport and seaport accountability measures, and allowed special blanket permits for oversized cranes to travel at night under FDOT safety protocols. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably. The committee also favorably reported SB 574, allowing Florida Purple Heart license plate holders to pass tolls free, and CS/SB 824, creating a specialty plate supporting Florida Highway Patrol troopers and scholarships. The committee then took up CS/SB 324, which creates a revolving low-interest loan program at the Department of Commerce for small businesses harmed by significant public works construction. Senator Smith described a local example involving prolonged sewer work in Orlando that hurt businesses in the Lake Ivanhoe district. Members raised concerns about fiscal impact, eligibility standards, proof of loss, business age, and whether financial records should be protected from public disclosure. The bill was amended to remove a hotline, add a webpage, and refine liability language, and the committee reported it favorably. The committee also favorably reported CS/SB 1714, requiring local housing assistance plans to include support for mobile home owners, including lot-rent assistance; CS/SB 766, revising registration requirements for agents and organizations tied to foreign countries of concern; and CS/SB 1024, creating specialty plates for the U.S. Military Academy and U.S. Naval Academy. Additional measures approved included CS/SB 1246, authorizing a Save Coastal Wildlife specialty plate with proceeds going to the Zoo Miami Foundation; CS/SB 1644, expanding warning light use for volunteer firefighters, medical staff, and organ transport vehicles, with discussion focused on Hatzalah emergency services; SB 1152, increasing the Florida Wildflower specialty plate fee to support conservation, research, and native seed industry development; and CS/SB 532, exempting 100% disabled veterans from tolls. An amendment to SB 532 also added Purple Heart recipients to the toll exemption. Several members requested to be recorded voting in the affirmative on selected tabs, and the committee adjourned after all bills were reported favorably.
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education Apr 10th, 2025

Appropriations Committee on Pre-K - 12 Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • This legislation refines the definition of economically disadvantaged from federal poverty level to state
Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Pre-K-12 Education met and considered a wide range of education-related bills, with most measures receiving favorable reports. Early in the meeting, the committee approved CS/SB 754 on International Baccalaureate bonus funding, CS/SB 1122 on Florida Virtual School updates, and CS/SB 430 requiring public schools to adopt cardiac emergency response plans, train students and staff in CPR/AED use, and maintain accessible AEDs. Testimony on the cardiac bill came from the American Heart Association and the Florida chapter of the American College of Cardiology in support, and the chair noted a survey suggesting many districts already have AEDs in schools. The committee also approved CS/SB 1528 on educational opportunities for military children, which expands coordination and training under the interstate compact, and CS/SB 364, which would move the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys from the Department of Legal Affairs to Florida Memorial University for research and administrative support. The committee then adopted amendments and favorably reported CS/SB 1590 on educator preparation, which modernizes teacher standards and certification pathways, including updates to FEAPs, a revised teacher exam, and an alternative certification program. The SPLC testified in opposition to part of the bill, arguing that language on historical instruction and systemic racism was contradictory and could limit accurate teaching of history. The committee also approved CS/SB 1702 on education, incorporating a wireless-device-in-schools pilot and other education provisions, with support from the Florida Charter School Alliance and others. CS/SB 444 on human trafficking awareness was amended to require no-cost training for school employees and charter schools; FSU law students testified in support, emphasizing the need for school personnel to recognize trafficking indicators. The committee also approved CS/SB 650 on hazardous walking conditions, expanding transportation eligibility for students walking near limited-access facilities, though members noted the bill carried an indeterminate fiscal impact and no dedicated funding. Later, the committee favorably reported CS/SB 1102 on school readiness, which expands how disabilities can be identified for early learning services and ties additional funding to training on early identification of delays. It also approved SB 1382 on access to school readiness programs for economically disadvantaged households, revising eligibility and priority tiers to use state median income rather than federal poverty level and refining the waitlist and forecasting process. Several members recorded votes on bills they had missed during the meeting, and the committee adjourned after reporting all of the above measures favorably.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Commerce Committee Meeting - 2025-04-01

Commerce Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • It refines the protection, key changes, and enhances oversight, correcting statutory references for exemptions
Bills: HF2543 , HF2566 , HF2627
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • Hours and hours trying to refine this bill so that it's fair.
Bills: SB260 , SB263 , SB293 , SJR18
Committee: Senate Finance
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Agriculture Mar 3rd, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • . >> Chair Truenow: MEMBERS, SB 374 REFINES THE TERM FARM PRODUCT TO INCLUDE PLANT AND PLANT PRODUCTS
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Feb 4th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • 127 recognizes today as Texas Energy Day. and oil and gas and natural gas production storage and refining