Video & Transcript Research : 'testimonies'
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MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Committee on Steering and Policy Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Senate Committee on Steering and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- Oh, and I just want to point out, we will receive written testimony. We read written testimony.
- We love written testimony.
- At the chair's discretion, we can limit that testimony or extend that testimony.
- Thanks for your testimony. Thank you. Thanks for your testimony. Any questions? No.
- testimony if you wish.
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Steering and Policy held a public hearing on potential updates to Massachusetts’ 2022 Shield Law to strengthen protections for reproductive and gender-affirming health care. Chair Cindy Friedman said the hearing was prompted by escalating federal and out-of-state threats, and testimony was sought on loopholes and clarifications involving emergency abortion care, limits on cooperation with outside investigations, protection of patient data, and safeguarding licenses of providers and attorneys involved in this care.
The Attorney General’s Office, ACLU of Massachusetts, GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders, Reproductive Equity Now, the Massachusetts Medical Society, TransHealth, and Health Imperatives all supported strengthening the law. Witnesses urged broader bans on sharing health data with hostile states, explicit AG enforcement authority, exclusion of reproductive and gender-affirming prescriptions from the prescription monitoring program, protections for electronic medical records, and allowing clinicians to use practice names on prescription labels. Several speakers also called for protections for parents of transgender youth, attorneys, and nonprofit organizations, and some raised related concerns about insurance discrimination and the burden of post-24-week abortion restrictions.
Committee members asked questions about enforcement mechanisms, data privacy, patient consent, and how to balance interoperability with privacy protections in electronic records. Witnesses said the goal was to prevent immediate harm while preserving patient control and access to care. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the chair closed by inviting written testimony and then moved to adjourn the hearing.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Provide testimony on, for, or against Senate Bill 2539.
- The chair opens up now for public testimony. Public testimony will now be heard.
- The chair now opens up public testimony. Public testimony is on the committee substitute.
- The chair opens public testimony. Public testimony will be on the committee substitute.
- Well, hearing none, public testimony is open and closed.
Keywords:
monuments, memorials, public property, historical significance, civil penalties, local governance, project financing zone, municipal tax revenue, convention centers, multipurpose arenas, infrastructure development, hike and bike trails, outdoor recreation, environmental stewardship, Bicentennial Trail, Texas history, cultural heritage, unemployment benefits, eligibility, Texas Workforce Commission
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Public Service Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Public Service
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you for your testimony.
- Thank you for your testimony.
- Thank you for your testimony. I don't have any questions.
- Thank you for your testimony. I don't have any questions.
- First of all, thank all of you for your testimony. I see Mr.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on a range of public retirement and municipal health insurance bills. Mass Retirees and the American Federation of Teachers supported House 2890/Senate 1848 on transparency in municipal health insurance, arguing that broker and consultant roles should be clearly defined, commissions disclosed, and dual roles prohibited to reduce conflicts of interest and costs. They also supported House 2799/Senate 1848 on protecting municipal retirees from future premium contribution increases, House 2854 on voting rights for surviving spouses in retirement board elections, and Senate 1917 on updating the definition of veteran for retirement purposes. Committee members discussed whether the veteran definition should simply conform to the federal definition going forward.
Educators testified in support of House 2769/Senate 1921, which would allow teachers with at least 20 years of service to buy back creditable service for periods when they worked part-time while raising children. Multiple teachers described the financial and retirement penalties they experienced after stepping down to part-time work for child care, calling the current system inequitable and a “mom tax.” Sponsors and supporters said the bill is intended to correct that disparity and help retain teachers, while one committee member noted it appeared neutral on an actuarial basis.
The committee also heard strong support for Senate 1908, which would raise the cap on outside income for public pension recipients, from retired State Police troopers who said the current limit is outdated and unfair to those forced into disability retirement after line-of-duty injuries. Another State Police representative supported House 2910 on state police pensions, citing recruitment and retention problems under current pension rules. In contrast, Hampden County Regional Retirement System officials and the Massachusetts Association of Contributory Retirement Systems opposed House 2745, a bill to restructure the Hampden County system’s governance, arguing it would weaken PERAC oversight and create an unworkable local system. They instead supported House 2813, which would extend the time to fill a vacant fifth member seat on retirement boards. At the end of the hearing, the committee voted to adjourn the hearing.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you very much for your testimony. testimony. testimony.
- provide some testimony as well. provide some testimony as well.
- >> Thank you for your testimony. >> Thank you for your testimony.
- Um, testimony.
- We will read your testimony. apologize. We will read your testimony.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Psilocybin therapeutic use program established 3/9/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- >> Thank you for your testimony. Mister Young. Next up, David Los.
- >> Thank you for your testimony. Mister Benson sector Next up, Dr.
- Please state your name for the record and proceed with your testimony.
- >> Thank you for your testimony members.
- So thank you for giving us this testimony.
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
Special Committee on Rural Issues Jan 14th, 2026
Special Committee on Rural Issues
Transcript Highlights:
- We'll now go to testimony. It's my practice to alternate testimony.
- Seeing none, thank you very much for your testimony.
- Thank you very much for your testimony. Seeing none. Thank you very much for your testimony.
- Seeing none, thank you for your testimony. Committee saying none, thank you for your testimony.
- Jeffries, for your testimony. I appreciate it.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Anyone else submitting testimony.
- We stand on our written testimony.
- Um, I didn't submit testimony.
- [laughter] >> Um, you know, I read through the testimony and a lot of the testimony in opposition had
- Thanks so much for your testimony.
Keywords:
accessible parking, disability, kupuna, public accommodations, small business exemptions, Hawaii Revised Statutes, parking permit, blind, deaf, accessibility, deafness, traffic safety, law enforcement, vehicle registration, communication, emergency services, commercial driver's license, first responders, public safety, authorized emergency vehicle
Summary:
The joint hearing covered House Bill 251, which would require hospitals to report costs associated with Medicare and uninsured patients, and House Bill 1875, which would expand protections for gender-affirming health care services. On HB 251, the Department of Health said it supported the intent but described the bill as complicated and potentially impractical as drafted because the department lacks the expertise to produce the required analyses without outside help. Hawaii Health Systems Corporation echoed those concerns, while the Queen’s Health System said it was willing to work with the department to provide the information. In committee discussion, officials explained that hospital support in Hawaii includes public hospital appropriations and the provider tax program, which uses hospital and nursing home contributions to draw federal matching funds; a department witness estimated the net benefit at about $150 million for hospitals and $20 million for nursing facilities, though exact figures would be provided later.
On HB 1875, the Insurance Division testified with concerns that the bill’s language on prohibited actions by malpractice insurers was broad and vague, and that a rate-increase prohibition could conflict with actuarially based insurance pricing. The division also noted it was not the primary enforcement agency for the statute. In contrast, many testifiers strongly supported the bill, including the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, the Hawaii State LGBTQ+ Commission, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, PFLAG Oahu, the ACLU of Hawaii, the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, the Hawaii County Democratic Party, and others. Supporters argued that gender-affirming care is medically necessary, evidence-based, and protected by privacy and bodily autonomy principles, and that the bill would protect patients and providers from outside political interference. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.
FL
Florida 2026 4th Special Session
February 3, 2026 - 02:30 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- We are in public testimony. We have several folks that want to speak.
- Public testimony... Montana, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Alabama.
- Public testimony...
- Seeing no further public testimony, we are in debate.
- Public testimony. We are debate, members.
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum present and heard a series of health care-related bills, with Chair Tuck emphasizing respectful debate and noting that all bills on the agenda would be voted on that day. The first measure, HB 743, would give the Attorney General authority to investigate and bring civil actions against health care practitioners who violate Florida’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors, and would make aiding or abetting such conduct a third-degree felony. Supporters said it closed loopholes and protected minors and parental rights, while opponents argued it was vague, overbroad, and could chill lawful care and professional judgment. The bill passed 13-4 and was reported favorably.
The committee then unanimously approved PCS for HB 567, which narrows a continuing-education requirement for podiatrists so only those who prescribe controlled substances must take the related two-hour course. It also unanimously approved HB 439, allowing chiropractors, under specified training and certification requirements, to inject vitamins and nutrients while continuing to prohibit intravenous injections. The committee also passed HB 1235 to enter Florida into the respiratory care interstate compact, and HB 1237, a linked public-records/public-meetings exemption needed to implement that compact; both measures were supported as workforce and access-to-care bills and passed without opposition.
Later, the committee approved PCS for HB 809, which addresses temporary physician certificates in areas of need and aims to prevent doctors from losing the ability to practice when area designations change. Members asked about licensure pathways and the effect of federal or board designation changes, and supporters framed the bill as protecting continuity of care in underserved communities. The committee also unanimously passed HB 1347 to align clinical laboratory personnel licensing with federal CLIA standards amid staffing shortages, and HB 1515, a public-records exemption tied to a uterine fibroid research database.
Finally, the committee approved HB 169 updating acupuncture statutes, including terminology changes and limits on injection therapy, and HB 1021, Representative Young’s first bill, allowing qualified hospital pharmacists in Level I and II trauma centers to administer emergency medications at a physician’s direction during life-threatening situations. HB 1021 drew the most questions, mainly about scope, definitions, and who could authorize the pharmacist, but after a technical amendment it passed unanimously. All remaining bills were reported favorably, and the meeting adjourned after the final vote.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- We will open up public testimony.
- We'll open up public testimony on Senate Bill 1013.
- We have had testimony, and we're extensive testimony. So that's where these numbers came from.
- If not, we'll open up for public testimony.
- We'll open up testimony on Senate Bill 2705.
Keywords:
memorial highway, Captain Kevin Williams, Firefighter Austin Cheek, Smith County, transportation, pedestrian right-of-way, sidewalk users, bicycle safety, micromobility, electric scooter, motor-assisted scooter, electric personal assistive mobility device, skateboard, roller skates, driveway crossing, alley crossing, traffic safety, yield law, Texas Transportation Code, vehicle-pedestrian collision
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- We'll close public testimony.
- Okay, we'll open public testimony on Senate Bill 1030.
- We have no public testimony cards registered.
- So we will open public testimony, close public testimony, and leave it pending. Thank you.
- Okay, public testimony.
Keywords:
HVAC, tax exemption, energy efficiency, residential heating, installation services, Energy Star, sales tax, residential, installation, sales tax exemption, Environmental Protection Agency, temporary exemption, motor fuel tax, county exemption, diesel fuel, gasoline tax, transportation funding, SB 1030, Texas Tax Code, use tax exemption
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- If you have written testimony and also wish to speak, please provide your written testimony and bring
- We will be using a panel format for testimony.
- Testimony is closed.
- Members, we'll now move to public testimony.
- This is all I have for public testimony.
Keywords:
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, water regulation, environmental protection, pesticide management, natural resources, LP-gas, property owner notice, gas installations, safety notification, petroleum theft, task force, oil and gas, law enforcement, economic impact, environmental regulation, water permits, water quality, land application, 1185, senate
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:12:39.240>
and honored to submit this testimony and honored to submit this testimony and - In fact, there was no testimony submitted in opposition.
- In fact, there was no testimony submitted in opposition.
- <00:26:31.159>
was Zoom chair thank you his testimony was Zoom chair thank you his testimony - <00:27:05.399>
but sorry we can't hear your testimony but sorry we can't hear your testimony
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Transit operation consolidation 3/11/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs Mar 26th, 2025
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Do you have any testimony, or are you just here for questions? I don't have any direct testimony.
- Thank you for your testimony.
- Thank you for your testimony.
- Yeah, a lot of interesting testimony.
- Thank you so much for your testimony.
Bills:
HB1583, HB1775, HB1832, HB1836, HB1837, HB1866, HB1983, HB2029, HB2217, HB2318, HB2363, HB2486
Keywords:
mental health, emergency detention, peace officer, mental illness, prevention of harm, border security, private landowners, study and report, General Land Office, participation, controlled substances, opioid antagonists, law enforcement training, substance abuse prevention, Texas-Mexico border, criminal justice, public safety, law enforcement, National Park Service, arrest powers
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee 3/12/25 - Part 1
Public Safety Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- My son has always been reading my testimony.
- <01:05:19.440>
on opportunity to provide testimony on opportunity to provide testimony on - date your name begin your testimony date your name begin your testimony Please<01:14:03.199>
- Evan Harod, please state your name and begin your testimony. testimony I oppose uh house file 16 testimony
- you know based on all of the testimony you know based on all of the testimony and<01:36:39.639><
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
April 10, 2025 - 11:30 AM
Transcript Highlights:
- Public testimony. Any other questions, members? Okay. Public testimony on Rep. Cross's amendment.
- Seeing no questions, public testimony. No public testimony.
- Public testimony. No public testimony. Members, we are in debate. Debate on this amendment.
- Seeing none, public testimony. Debate on the bill. On public testimony. Debate on the bill.
- Members, seeing none, public testimony. All right. Public testimony. All right.
Summary:
The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee met and first took up CS/HB 567, a broad transportation bill by Rep. McFarland. The bill, as explained, covered a range of transportation policy changes including higher speed limits, local regulation of e-bikes and e-scooters, parking accommodations for pregnant women, advance land acquisition for DOT projects, changes to FDOT contracting, elevation of roads in capacity projects, MPO quality metrics, and repeal of the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council. Two amendments were adopted: one added a prohibition on driving too fast through flooded roads and creating excessive wake, and another updated language to allow for future technology in traffic management systems. The strike-all removed several items from the original bill, including utility-right-of-way language, private-public-use airport funding, and an electric vehicle tax redirect, and added MDX board changes. The bill then passed favorably on a recorded vote.
The committee next considered CS/HB 1535, also by Rep. McFarland, a lengthy hurricane recovery and preparedness measure. It requires local governments to post storm-preparedness and recovery information online, expands special needs shelter information, mandates emergency management training, improves debris removal planning, and adds provisions for fiscally constrained counties. It also addresses shelter access, rebuilding rules, permitting timelines and fees after storms, homestead rebuilding limits, and election flexibility after disasters, including a process for supervisors of elections to request emergency changes through the Secretary of State. Members asked several questions about local rebuilding ordinances, election “super sites,” and the request/approval process. The bill drew support from several groups, including disability advocates, builders, waste and recycling interests, crane owners, and restaurant and lodging representatives, and it passed favorably.
The committee then heard CS/HB 561 and CS/HB 563 from Rep. Cobb on manufacturing. HB 561 would elevate a chief manufacturing officer within the Department of Commerce, create a voluntary Florida manufacturing promotional campaign, and require biennial reporting on manufacturing efforts; an amendment removed the grant portion of the program, and the bill passed favorably with support from industry groups. HB 563 established an annual fee, capped at $100, for participants in the voluntary manufacturing promotional campaign and also passed favorably. Finally, Rep. Spencer presented HB 827, which directs a statewide study on the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on Florida’s workforce, to be updated every three years and developed with business, academic, and local input; it too passed favorably. The meeting then adjourned with notice that the subcommittee would meet again the following week.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Revenue Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- Before we begin hearing testimony, I just want to quickly review the process of this hearing.
- Speakers are asked to please limit their testimony to no more than three minutes.
- If you have longer thoughts to share, please... ...please submit written testimony.
- We always encourage written testimony.
- We review written testimony in the same way in which we handle oral testimony at our hearings.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hearing on several housing-related bills, with chairs Adrienne Madaro and James Eldridge framing the discussion as part of the Legislature’s broader response to the state’s housing crisis and noting that many of the bills build on the 2024 Affordable Homes Act. The chairs reviewed hearing procedures, including the three-minute oral testimony limit, the option to submit written testimony, and the hybrid format. No votes were taken during the hearing.
Testimony began with support for H. 3278, a bill to create a graduated deed excise tax for affordable housing. Representative Worel argued that higher-end real estate transactions should contribute more to fund affordable housing production, saying the measure would not burden working families and would help address racial inequities in homeownership and displacement. Representative Soder then supported H. 3247, which would promote redevelopment of abandoned buildings through expanded tax incentives for renovating vacant properties for sale or rent, arguing that it would bring blighted units back into use and generate future tax revenue.
The committee also heard testimony on H. 3040/S. 1969, residential improvement or R-PACE legislation. Robert Giles of Home Run Financing and Nicole Steele of Amalgamated Bank described the program as a voluntary, assessment-based financing tool that could help homeowners pay for energy efficiency, resilience, and other major repairs without upfront costs, and said it could complement existing Mass Save programs while expanding access to more homeowners. In contrast, Judith Lieben of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute opposed H. 3039/S. 1946, the Housing Development Incentive Program bill, arguing it would expand subsidies for market-rate and luxury housing in Gateway Cities instead of directing resources to low-income renters. Representative Hawkins also testified in support of H. 3121, which would end large investor control of homes in Massachusetts by imposing an excise tax on large owners of small residential properties and using the revenue for first-time homebuyer down payment assistance. After testimony and a few member questions, the chairs asked whether anyone else wished to testify and then adjourned the hearing.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Testimony will be limited, uh, strictly to 2 minutes.
- Keith Graff Chair opens up, uh, public testimony.
- Jared opens up public testimony.
- Hearing done, we're going to open up public testimony.
- Hearing no chair now opens public testimony.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- With no other testimony, we'll close public testimony on Senate Bill 14.
- A bill 1750 with no further testimony, public testimony will close. on Senate Bill 1750.
- Appreciate your testimony. Thank you.
- With no further public testimony on Senate Bill 762, public testimony will close. close and Senate Bill
- Thank you very much for your testimony, ma'am.
Keywords:
instructional materials, public schools, Education Code, adoption, rejected materials, local funds, open educational resources, Texas Education Code, school districts, open enrollment charter schools, funding restrictions, environmental regulation, business compliance, local authority, economic development, state preemption, local control, open education resources, SB 762, Texas public schools
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
CPC Public Hearing - Wed Mar 18, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST
Consumer Protection & Commerce
Transcript Highlights:
- our written testimony. our written testimony.
- testimony in support. testimony in support.
- >
into <00:59:21.920>these My written testimony goes into these My written testimony goes - testimony in support. testimony in support.
- . testimony. testimony.
Keywords:
insurance, climate change, responsible parties, damages, Hawaii Property Insurance Association, Hurricane Relief Fund, civil action, climate disasters, extreme weather, SB888, Hawaii, consumer protection, smart home security, smart household security device, home security camera, video doorbell, Ring, Nest, connected devices, internet of things
Summary:
The committee heard SB 1166 SD2, a bill on insurance and climate-related damages that would authorize the Hawaii Property Insurance Association and, in amended versions discussed during testimony, other public and private entities to pursue civil actions to recover losses tied to climate disasters and extreme weather. DCCA’s Insurance Division and the Department of the Attorney General raised legal concerns, saying the bill’s scope may not fit the insurance code section being amended, that it could create subject-matter and title issues, and that some subrogation language may be duplicative of existing rate-filing practice. Lawyers for Justice opposed the measure, arguing it conflicts with existing subrogation law and recent Hawaii Supreme Court rulings that treat the judicial lien process as the exclusive remedy. The American Petroleum Institute also opposed, warning the bill would add liability and litigation risk for companies operating under existing permits and could undermine energy reliability and investment.
Supporters said the bill would help shift climate-related insurance costs away from residents and onto fossil fuel companies and other responsible parties. Testimony in support came from the Polluters Pay Hawaii Coalition, Center for Climate Integrity, Hawaii Island Council, Our Hawaii, Sierra Club of Hawaii, and others, who described recent flooding, storm damage, rising premiums, non-renewals, and underinsurance as evidence of a worsening climate-driven insurance crisis. Several supporters urged amendments to give the Attorney General explicit authority to recover insurance-related losses for the Hurricane Relief Fund, HPIA, and private insurers, and to ensure recovered amounts benefit policyholders. Committee members questioned whether HPIA is a private entity, whether the Attorney General could represent it, whether the bill could create double recovery or affect pending climate litigation, and whether insurers would have standing or damages if they are only paying contractual claims.
The committee then took up SB 888 SD2, a consumer protection bill that would restrict smart household security device operators from sharing user data with law enforcement without consent or a judicial order, and would bar conditioning device use on such consent. The Office of Consumer Protection testified in support and said an Illinois law could serve as a useful template for exceptions to the warrant requirement. An individual supporter said the measure would protect immigrant communities, judges, and others from surveillance and misuse of private data. No vote was taken during the portion of the meeting provided, and the chair noted additional written testimony submitted in support of SB 1166.