Transcript Highlights:

• The end of last session was not good.
• for um how they get through the session. for um how they get through the session.
• The end of last session was not good. The end of last session was not good.
• Some some tougher to start out session.
• to page 64. session, turn to page 64.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: This episode of Senate Spotlight focused on several nonpartisan Senate offices and programs that help lawmakers and the public understand the legislative process. It highlighted the Civility Caucus, where Republican Sen. Zach Duckworth and DFL Sen. Grant Hauschild work to build relationships across party lines, especially important in a closely divided Senate and during a bonding year that requires a two-thirds vote for infrastructure spending. Speakers emphasized that the caucus is about civility, empathy, and laying groundwork for future bipartisan work rather than guaranteeing agreement on specific bills. The program also explained how Minnesotans can track legislative activity through the Senate Journal and the fiscal review. Staff described the Journal as a public record of votes, amendments, roll calls, and other actions, useful for checking how senators voted on bills that passed or failed. The fiscal review was presented as a nonpartisan, award-winning summary of the enacted budget, with examples of how readers can find spending details by page and a discussion of plans to make the document more interactive and web-based. Viewers were also directed to the Senate website to look up senators’ contact information and to the Legislature’s bill-tracking system. Another segment covered Senate File 901, a bipartisan bill by Sen. Eric Pratt that funded an equine-assisted therapy program for first responders dealing with trauma. Testimony described how the program has helped police, firefighters, dispatchers, and correctional officers stay on the job and recover mentally, with lawmakers noting its strong support and practical benefits. The episode also featured Senate pages and interns, who described their behind-the-scenes work supporting committee meetings and learning the legislative process, and concluded with a segment on Capitol art and a new public gallery meant to inspire good government and showcase Minnesota artists.

Transcript Highlights:

• The tool to account for the fraud is all of the BCA investigators that we hired last session.
• It's the audit hired uh last session.
• Senator Murphy could you hit session?
• caucus will go into next session caucus will go into next session supporting<00:12:17.680> the
• legislative session approved in that legislative session closed<00:19:38.240> in<00:19:38.400

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: House and Senate DFL leaders Erin Murphy and Zach Stevenson discussed Minnesota’s budget forecast, arguing that rising health care costs, federal policy changes under Trump and congressional Republicans, and cuts to health care, food support, and clean energy are worsening the state’s fiscal outlook and household affordability. They said the state’s economy remains strong but is being undermined by higher premiums, tariffs, canceled projects, and shifting costs to state and local governments, while Republicans are prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy and large corporations over working families. A major topic was fraud prevention and oversight. In response to questions, the leaders said every dollar of fraud is unacceptable, but that the budget forecast is not the right tool to measure it. They pointed to existing efforts, including BCA investigators, a governor-ordered and legislature-authorized audit, stronger laws passed in 2023-2025, and work on an independent inspector general proposal. They said the House DFL supports stronger anti-fraud measures and wants fraudsters held accountable, while also protecting services for vulnerable Minnesotans. The leaders also defended prior DFL budget decisions, saying the 2023 legislative session ended with a $5 billion surplus and rejecting Republican claims that DFL spending drained the state’s coffers. They said Minnesota must still balance its budget, but that the structural deficit is being driven largely by rising medical assistance and health care costs, which they argued are tied to federal actions and broader health system instability. No votes were taken in this transcript; it was a press availability with questions and responses.

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, that was a very short work session on that.
• go ahead and begin the uh work session go ahead and begin the uh work session on<00:02:50.879>
• Well, that was a very short work session Well, that was a very short work session on<00:04:48.400
• to call the executive sessions to order. to call the executive sessions to order. uh<00:12:44.800
• The executive sessions on both HP 100 and 561 are closed. No further business.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Public Works and Highways Committee met in work session on HB 100 and HB 561, with brief housekeeping remarks at the start noting a new committee member, Representative Charlie Foot, and the departure of committee assistant Karen Davis. The chair also referenced upcoming discussion of the 10-year transportation plan and warned that the gas hearings and related funding changes would affect communities. HB 100 would prohibit the Department of Transportation from using state funds for planning, construction, operation, or management of new passenger rail projects. Members raised concerns that the bill needed more work and might have unintended effects on private and tourist rail operations, including the Cog Railway and other tourism railways. Several speakers said the issue should be studied further rather than acted on immediately. HB 561 concerns the transfer of state-owned real property, specifically requiring approval from municipal legislative bodies before transferring state-owned class one or two highways. Multiple members supported an interim study, saying the bill is tied to broader questions about the 10-year plan, road funding, municipal partnership, and the possibility that the state may eventually need to turn highways over to towns. Concerns were also raised about specific road situations such as Continental Boulevard and the need to understand current practices before making changes. In executive session, the committee voted 16-0, with two members absent, to send both HB 100 and HB 561 to interim study and place them on the consent calendar. The chair then explained that the bills would be revisited next fall and could later be debated on the House floor. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Amen. session there's a lot swirling around in session there's a lot swirling around in this<00:00:57.320
• and the 94th legislative session in Minnesota.
• minnesotans let's make this session minnesotans let's make this session about<00:34:24.679> bringing
• service as we move forward this session service as we move forward this session and<00:59:09.599
• <01:35:04.960> and brightly for us all this session and brightly for us all this session and

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: The Minnesota Senate convened for opening day of the 94th legislative session, with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and remarks honoring the late Senator Carrie Dike, whose seat was left empty. Leaders from both parties described her as a unifying, hardworking public servant and noted the chamber’s grief at her death. A quorum was established by roll call of members from all districts. The Senate then elected Bobby Joe Champion and Jeremy Miller as co-presiding officers by a vote of 65 ayes and 1 pass, and they were sworn in. In their remarks, both emphasized cooperation, open dialogue, and working forward together despite a projected budget deficit and other difficult issues ahead. The chamber also elected Thomas Bodin as Secretary of the Senate by 66 votes, and then approved a slate of other officers—including assistant secretaries, engrossing secretary, sergeant at arms, assistant sergeant at arms, and chaplain—by one roll call with 66 votes. Senate Resolution No. 1, which set the temporary organization of the Senate and memorialized the organizing agreement between the two caucuses, was adopted by a vote of 66 ayes and 0 nays. The resolution covered temporary leadership structure, staff and appointments, committee memberships and schedules, adoption of temporary rules from the prior session with updated committee names, and procedures for resolving future issues. After adoption, the Senate set aside time for members to speak in tribute to Senator Dike, with several senators offering personal remembrances and condolences to her family and staff.

Transcript Highlights:

• We will defend their liberty in this session and beyond. Thank you all.
• We will defend their liberty in this session and beyond. Thank you all.
• <00:18:12.640> and that we did last legislative session and that we did last legislative session
• We will defend their liberty in this session and beyond. Thank you all.
• <00:24:24.400> and Representatives floor last session and Representatives floor last session

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• President, there are informational communications available on the session web.
• It is available on session web and identified as Amendment Number One.
• It is available on session web and identified as Amendment Number One.
• It is an S-1, available on the session web, and identified as amendment number one.
• House Bill 5249 on the General Orders calendar during today's session.

Keywords: 983, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Seated visitor to today's floor session.
• Here at the capital, the this session.
• . session. session.
• Members, let's give for this session.
• . session. session.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . session. session.
• and out of session.
• If we're in session,<01:37:14.080> out<01:37:14.320> of<01:37:14.400> session,<01
• do things session, out of session, how do things work<01:37:15.760> with<01:37:16.000> that
• Like it would be so this session?

Bills: HF3379

Keywords: housing stabilization, disability services, predatory funding, provider requirements, housing accessibility, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• will also recess this executive session will also recess this executive session and<00:22:00.120
• <00:33:15.720> Uh session on Senate Bill 298. Uh session on Senate Bill 298.
• Um with us, I I sessions this morning.
• Um and with that, we executive session.
• even in between sessions? even in between sessions?

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We invite your presence into the commencement of this 2025 Florida Legislative Session.
• Speaker: The House of Representatives is declared officially in session for the 127th regular session
• For his 51st session in a row, the Honorable Lee Moffitt.
• Speaker: This is my ask of you this session. Let us focus on what matters.
• Members, stay close by for the joint session which will begin at 11:00 a.m.

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we're opening our session this morning.
• my executive session my executive session this<00:12:00.279> is<00:12:00.519> not<
• The chair then closed the executive session on House Bill 240 and opened executive session on House Bill
• 240 I hearby open the executive session 240 I hearby open the executive session on<00:20:43.200>
• The chair then closed the executive session and opened executive session on House Bill 602, recognizing

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, you this session. And it was you.
• Speaking of, you know, this session, what about next session? What do you hope to achieve then?
• Speaking of, you deliver this session.
• session, what about next session?
• for the rest of the 2025 2026 session for the rest of the 2025 2026 session will<00:28:24.080>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Now neither of these bills moved during the 2026 session.
• So that kind of wraps up the Select Committee focus from last session.
• So this bill was effective 90 days after session.
• So that kind of wraps up the overview of session.
• Very difficult budget session.

Keywords: 904, all

Summary: The Select Committee on Pension Policy approved the November minutes by roll call vote, then held its annual officer elections. Senator Conway was elected chair, Representative Couture vice chair, Mike Yastramski to the executive committee as the active member representative, Bev Hermanson as the retiree representative, and Anthony Marietta as the employer representative. Each election passed by roll call vote, with 14 yes votes and 5 excused members. Staff then presented a high-level overview of the 2026 legislative session, focusing on pension-related bills and studies. Topics included the termination and restatement of LEOFF 1 in Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2034, DRS administration changes in House Bill 2124, administrative expense authority in Substitute Senate Bill 5834, exclusion of certain port workers from PERS in Engrossed House Bill 2179, and a one-time 3% COLA for PERS and TERS Plan 1 retirees in Substitute Senate Bill 5862. The presentation also covered new studies directed to the committee, including LEOFF 1 pension board and medical liability issues and oversight of the restated LEOFF 1 plan, plus related studies assigned to the LEOFF 2 Board and the Office of the State Actuary. Committee members asked about DRS’s role in implementing the LEOFF 1 termination/restatement bill, and DRS said it would help seek IRS approval and notify members about the bill and any challenge deadlines. A separate orientation presentation reviewed committee procedures, public comment, staff roles, voting rules, and the interim work plan. Public commenters from retiree and school administrator groups urged the committee to pursue another one-time COLA and to consider an ongoing COLA for Plan 1 retirees, pointing to inflation and the LEOFF 1 surplus account created by HB 2034. No further committee action was taken beyond adjournment, and the meeting ended after scheduling the executive committee to meet later that morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• What actually happened at the end of the session? Mr.
• From the 2026 legislative session.
• In a normal session, the number.
• If you go to page 46 of your post-session review.
• To engage in this again before a 60-day session rather than a 30-day session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Calendar during today's session. Without objection, so ordered.
• It's on Session Web and is identified as Amendment 1A.
• It is available on session web...
• It is available on session web and identified as Amendment No. 1.
• It is available on session web and identified as Amendment No. 1.

Summary: The Senate met with 33 members present and a quorum, then repeatedly recessed and reconvened to take up a large number of House bills and one Senate resolution. Early action included discharging several bills from committee and moving them to the General Orders calendar, including House Bills 4062, 4063, 4064, 5249, 4750, and 4644. The chamber also adopted Senate Resolution 135, recognizing the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, after extended remarks by Senator Cherry reflecting on American ideals and the nation’s history. Later, the Senate considered additional bills dealing with political activity, public health, foster care and adoption, the Michigan Vehicle Code, military leave, tax and insurance matters, child care licensing, open meetings, school code, property conveyance, juvenile diversion, and child abduction broadcasts. Most bills advanced with little or no debate, though several members offered amendments or floor substitutes that were adopted, withdrawn, or ruled out of order. Senator McBroom gave multiple no-vote explanations, objecting to the political-activity bills as restrictions on speech and association, and later criticizing piecemeal changes to the Open Meetings Act and a military-leave bill as potentially discouraging employers from hiring reservists. Senator Albert also explained no votes on the military-leave measures, saying the bills could create disincentives for employers and should have included a funding offset. On Senate Bill 22, McBroom offered a humorous amendment about payment methods that failed. On Senate Bill 373, his tie-bar amendment to unrelated “rice generator” bills also failed. The Senate passed and, in many cases, granted immediate effect to numerous bills, including House Bills 4062, 4063, 4064, 4750, 4644, 4189, 4207, 4208, 4309, 4396, 5570, 5571, 5806, 5807, 5995, 6043, 6074, 4100, 4103, 4104, 4517, 5232, 5233, 5249, and 4746, as well as Senate Bills 527, 569, 1052, 22, and 373. Some immediate-effect motions passed by the required two-thirds vote, while others were recorded as passed and then granted immediate effect. The Committee of the Whole reported several bills with amendments and others without amendment, and the Senate concurred in the committee’s recommendations before adjourning to recess again.

Transcript Highlights:

• and also in the special session.
• They had that conversation during session.
• That was House Bill, Senate Bill 2878 in the regular session.
• Back in the regular session. Right.
• In fact, House Bill 8 and Senate Bill 8 were filed. in the regular session.

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum call, invocation, and approval of the previous day’s journal, then observed a moment of silence after Senator Eckhardt referenced a mass shooting in Austin. The chamber also agreed to postpone reading and referral of bills until later in the day. Early procedural business included a motion not to print Senate Bill 3, which was adopted without objection. Later, Senator Mendez raised a parliamentary inquiry about moving flood relief bills to the top of the calendar, but the presiding officer said the order of business was up to the chair. The main floor action centered on Senate Bill 4, the congressional redistricting bill. Senator King laid out the bill, describing it as the companion to the House version, based on 2020 census data, and arguing it was legal, race-blind, more compact, and likely to elect more Republicans. Senators asked extensive questions about the process, public hearings, and the map’s effects on districts and communities. The Senate voted to suspend the regular order of business and the three-day rule, then passed SB 4 to engrossment and finally passed it, with the recorded votes showing 19 yeas and 2 nays. The Senate also took up Senate Bill 6, relating to abortion and civil liability for the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs. Senator Hughes argued the bill was needed to stop illegal abortion pills being mailed into Texas and harming women and unborn children. The Senate suspended the regular order of business and the three-day rule, passed the bill to engrossment, and then finally passed it, with the recorded votes showing 18 yeas, 10 nays, and one present not voting. A lengthy discussion followed on the committee substitute for Senate Bill 14, which would standardize law enforcement personnel and departmental files statewide. Senator King said the bill codifies a TCOLE model policy and limits public access to personnel files to substantiated misconduct, commendations, and evaluations, while keeping other records available through other legal processes. Senators Eckhardt, West, Hinojosa, and others questioned how the bill would affect transparency, meet-and-confer agreements, civilian review boards, and access to unsubstantiated complaints. An amendment by Senator Hinojosa of Dallas to narrow the bill to unfounded complaints failed, and SB 14 was then passed to engrossment on a vote of 18 yeas and 10 nays. The final major item was Senate Bill 1, the natural disaster omnibus bill responding to the July flooding. Senator Perry said the bill addresses camp and RV park safety, evacuation plans, emergency rooftop access, lines of succession for local emergency management, annual drills, volunteer management, drone restrictions over disaster areas, small-business recovery loans, and a statewide data hub for flood and weather monitoring. Senators Menendez, Eckhardt, and Kolkhorst asked about autopsies, volunteer background checks, liability, warning systems, floodplain mitigation, and coordination with FEMA and local governments. Perry said the bill focuses on preparation, response, and recovery, while broader prevention and mitigation issues may be addressed later. The transcript ends during this extended discussion, before final action on SB 1 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• session.
• Senate Bill 6, a topic that we've looked at in the regular session and also in the special session.
• We passed it out of the Senate in the regular session.
• Last session, it died in the House on the calendar.
• Back in the regular session. Right.

Bills: SB8, SB4, SB43, SB1, SB2, SB13, SB6, SB10, SB16, SB14, SB3, SB8, SB4, SB43, SB1, SB2, SB13, SB6, SB10, SB16, SB14, SB3

Keywords: education, accountability, public school assessment, state law, transparency, intervention, performance ratings, Texas congressional redistricting, U.S. House districts, congressional map, redistricting, gerrymandering, 2020 Census, census tracts, block groups, voting districts, election law, Texas House of Representatives districts, federal congressional districts, 2026 elections

Transcript Highlights:

• in 2026 or moving forward if we don't get to all of those things this session.
• The situation flipped last session.
• Please continue your work this session to address these major threats.
• Please continue your work this session to address these major threats.
• I'm hoping that by the end of session, we have a clearer picture where we're headed.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Welcome to our first hearing of the 89th regular session.
• So we're happy to have Macy here with us in Austin this session.
• He's ready for the session and adjusting to a different office.
• SB 1965 from the 88th session...
• Conservation Fund during the last legislative session.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• their missions and strengthening the reach across New Mexico, beginning with her first legislative session
• I am authorizing for your consideration during the 57th Legislature's second session the submission of
• Second session of a bill bearing Legislative Council Service drafting number 233180, a bill amending
• are present in this afternoon session.
• laws from the first special session of the 57th Legislature that would otherwise become effective on

Keywords: 996, all