Video & Transcript Research : 'appointment process'
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MN
Transcript Highlights:
- To the testifier, yes, sir. >> Who is it an appointed or is it elected, and then who appoints to be on
- it an appointed It's an appointed >> Who is it an appointed It's an appointed or<01:04:30.040>
- or is it elected, and then who appoints or is it elected, and then who appoints to<01:04:32.440>
- self-appointment self-appointment within<01:04:35.680>
the <01:04:36.160>the within the - So, after that initial appointment, they are on terms that it is a self-appointed term, but it's identified
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Higher Education Mar 18th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- So it's it's it's a new appointment for me.
- And that is he's been appointed as a trustee to Tallahassee State College.
- So with that, thank you so much for considering my appointment to SDF.
- I am thankful to Governor DeSantis for this appointment.
- My appointment, they will answer any questions. >> Thank you very much.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- From the Committee on Confirmations, Senate Confirmation number 108 appointing Mila E.
- Senate Confirmation number 105 appointing Angus R.
- Senate Confirmation number 105 appointing Angus R.
- Senate Confirmation number 109 appointing Joe Lamere to the Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation
- President, I mean, uh, Senator, I really have no reason to prolong this process.
Bills:
SJR 5, SJR 36, SJR 5, SJR 5, SR 105, SR 121, SB 17, SB 19, SB 25, SB 28, SB 17, SB 19, SB 25, SB 28
Keywords:
bail, felony offenses, criminal justice reform, public safety, constitutional amendment, school safety, mental health, emergency response, education policy, law enforcement, SR 121, Senate Resolution 121, Pete Alfaro, Pedro Cuellar Alfaro, Pedro Alfaro, Baytown, Texas Senate tribute, in memory, memorial resolution, condolence resolution
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Elections Finance and Government Operations Committee 1/22/25
Elections Finance and Government Operations
Transcript Highlights:
- Members are appointed for four-year terms.
- July 1st if an appointment has not been July 1st if an appointment has not been made<00:04:22.000>
- violations through the complaint process violations through the complaint process there<00:09:35.160
- <00:18:29.120>
but in terms of all of our processes but in terms of all of our processes but - Delano was just uh elected or appointed Delano was just uh elected or appointed to<00:59:01.359>
Summary:
The committee heard testimony from Jeff Sigerson, executive director of the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, who outlined the board’s mission and core programs: campaign finance disclosure, economic interest statements, and lobbying registration/reporting. He described the board as an independent agency with six members, noted current vacancies and confirmation requirements, and said the board’s budget request was essentially flat, with a base budget of about $1.793 million and most costs tied to salaries, office space, and other fixed expenses. He also reviewed the board’s enforcement structure, emphasizing civil-only penalties, a complaint-driven process, and the availability of reports, enforcement actions, and advisory opinions on the board’s website.
Sigerson highlighted several recent and upcoming changes. Local ballot question committees for city, school district, levy, and bond issues now must register with the board if they exceed $750 in activity, and the board is preparing outreach and online registration tools to help local committees comply. He also discussed the public subsidy and political contribution refund programs, saying the board paid out about $2.12 million to 230 House candidates in 2024, that 93% of candidates signed the subsidy agreement, and that 2023 PCR refunds totaled about $447,000 for candidates and $1.616 million for party donors. He noted that the PCR maximum refund was recently increased from $50 to $75 per donation, and that payments could drop significantly in 2026 if the one-time supplement is not renewed.
A major focus of the presentation was the board’s lobbying report and related legislative recommendations. Sigerson said the board is moving from tracking marginal expenses to tracking the subjects and entities being lobbied, and that lobbying will be expanded from certain metro-area governmental units to all cities, counties, school districts, townships, and other political subdivisions, potentially adding thousands of lobbyists. He said the board held two public hearings and received 23 written comments on proposed changes. The board’s main recommendations were to broaden the expert-testimony exception so that certain paid experts at local hearings would not need to register as lobbyists, while still requiring disclosure of who testified, before whom, and on what subject, and to adjust the current lobbying definition for local government employees and officials who spend more than 50 hours a month on intergovernmental lobbying work.
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Government Finance Committee Jun 25th, 2026 at 10:00 am
Government Finance Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- When state facilities do not participate in the local building process, permitting process, local officials
- and plan review process has been.
- do not participate in the local building process, permitting process, local officials are no longer
- and plan review process has been.
- And so there's more to the process.
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 094 Apr 18th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- That is, and the district process.
- But if it's about process, if it's about the fact that a defendant should have due process, I will not
- the court and the adjudication process. the court and the adjudication process.
- This bill did not go through that process. It went through a business process.
- A right to due process. And right? A right to due process.
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, approved the journal from April 16, 2026, and then moved to announcements and introductions. Representative Woodro welcomed fifth grade students from Denver Academy and recognized his son Ari on his 12th birthday, leading the chamber in singing happy birthday. The House then agreed to take up a memorial out of order.
Senate Joint Memorial 1, honoring the late Senator Faith Winter, was read at length and supported with remarks describing her legislative work on transportation, climate, paid family and medical leave, environmental justice, women’s leadership, and bipartisan efforts. Representative Wilford and others spoke emotionally about her public service and personal impact. The memorial was adopted on a 50-10 vote, with 15 excused, and Representatives Rutinel and Lindsay were listed as co-sponsors.
The chamber then considered committee reports and special orders. The Appropriations Committee reported several bills favorably, and the majority leader moved a slate of bills to special order. House Bill 1317, creating a unified system of post-secondary talent development and a transition plan for workforce development programs, was amended in committee to remove travel reimbursements, clarify adult learners’ inclusion, adjust advisory committee membership, and preserve type one status for affected departments; it passed the House. Senate Bill 85, concerning military protection orders in domestic violence cases, also passed after Judiciary Committee amendments clarifying law enforcement database checks. Senate Bill 95, supporting victim survivors of certain crimes, passed Judiciary but drew floor opposition from several members who argued the bill’s jury-related provisions conflicted with confrontation rights and due process; despite those concerns, the bill advanced after further debate continued.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- four members be appointed thereon. four members be appointed thereon.
- The secretary will read the next message. appointed by the subcommittee on appointed by the subcommittee
- committee appointed on the parted house. committee appointed on the parted house.
- <00:56:56.960>
uh Grunhagen about this very process uh Grunhagen about this very process uh - process. So members, I'd urge a no vote. process. So members, I'd urge a no vote.
Summary:
The Senate opened with a call of the Senate, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance, then established a quorum and moved to messages from the House. The chamber received several House-passed Senate files, including SF 2814 (real estate appraisers), SF 3637 (transportation), and SF 4244 (technical corrections), and took up SF 1714 on payment transparency and public contracts. The Senate concurred in the House amendments to SF 1714, advanced it to third reading, and then passed the bill 65-0. The Senate also received House amendments to SF 3432 on public safety, but instead of concurring, it voted to send the bill to a five-member conference committee. The Senate likewise agreed to a conference committee request on HF 4188, a commerce bill dealing with consumer protections for insurance and financial products.
The Senate then handled additional House messages and routine business, including first reading of several House files and adoption of committee reports. A committee report on SF 453, relating to thermal energy networks as public improvements and water works, recommended amendment and passage under Senate Concurrent Resolution 6, and the report was adopted except for the referenced resolution item. The chamber also completed second readings of several Senate bills and one House bill, and approved a motion to withdraw SF 4464 from the Committee on State and Local Government and return it to the author.
The main floor debate centered on HF 1141, the housing finance and policy omnibus. Senator Port described the bill as focused on affordability, including $50 million in housing infrastructure bonds, greater Minnesota infrastructure grants, manufactured housing protections, limits on large institutional investors buying single-family homes, and increased oversight of the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency. The Senate adopted several amendments, including a technical A12 amendment, A7 to dedicate $5 million of bonding to manufactured home park improvements, and A4 on manufactured housing protections such as rent receipts and longer move-out time after eviction. Senator Abler then offered A14, which would limit rent increases in certain non-market-rate, tax-credit housing for seniors to CPI-based increases; supporters framed it as a humanitarian measure for elderly residents facing steep rent hikes, while opponents raised concerns about rent control, the scope of the amendment, and the need for more detail. The transcript ends during continued debate on A14, with no final vote shown on that amendment.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- So Judge Stagner, before appointment by Governor. Abbott to the 8th Business Court.
- I want to make sure no one has heartburn and So far, that's been a pretty productive process.
- Judge Lance Long was appointed to the 100.
- I was appointed on the beginning of this year to be the judge of the 183rd district.
- Or the defendant's continued appearance in the criminal process.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- We have the President Pro Tem, I think, appoints one member.
- Who appoints... How are they, how are the members appointed?
- Chair, all of them are appointed by the governor? Mr.
- Chair, on the ISC appointments, if it is truly by the governor, there are nine state engineers appointed
- by the governor, and all the rest are appointed by the governor, okay?
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado Senate 2026 Legislative Day 069 Mar 24th, 2026
Colorado Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- We talk a lot about due process in this building. Due process is a big deal.
- because we have a crisis of due process because we have a crisis of due process in<01:08:19.120>
- serve as a member at large appointed. serve as a member at large appointed.
- <02:55:12.880>
Term appointed December 11, 2025. Term appointed December 11, 2025. - Applegate appointed January 16, 2026. Applegate appointed January 16, 2026.
Summary:
The Senate convened, established a quorum, approved the journal, and received several routine messages, including House-passed bills transmitted to the governor and the revisor. During moments of personal privilege, senators welcomed guests including members of the Persian Cultural Circle for the annual Naruse breakfast, a niece shadowing Senator Judah, and leadership from the Netherland Public Library. A tribute recognizing March 20, 2026 as Naruse Day was read into the record, celebrating the Persian New Year and the Iranian-American community.
On the consent calendar, House Bill 1191 passed 33-0. The bill concerns audits of school districts receiving state education fund money for capital construction projects for qualified charter schools, making the state auditor’s examination discretionary rather than mandatory. The Senate then laid over third reading of bills until March 24, 2026, pulled House Bill 1098 off consent for later consideration, and authorized the Joint Budget Committee to conduct business while the Senate was in session.
The chamber then resolved into Committee of the Whole and adopted House Bills 1180 and 1189 on second reading. HB 1180 continues the Business Intelligence Center Advisory Board sunset process by repealing the board, while HB 1189 addresses property held by a community property spouse under the Uniform Community Property Disposition at Death Act. The committee report was adopted 33-0 and the bills were ordered revised and placed on the third-reading calendar.
The committee also took up Senate Bill 112, concerning defendants who fail to appear in court and allowing certain pretrial release conditions for repeat failures to appear. Sponsor testimony emphasized that the bill was amended to use language from prior legislation and now focuses on repeated, willful failures to appear in the same case, with safeguards for municipal courts and situations where counsel is present. Supporters, including Senator Carson, argued the measure gives local courts a narrow tool to address repeated nonappearance and reduce burdens on judges, law enforcement, victims, and taxpayers; the discussion continued as the transcript ended.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- One member will be appointed by the governor and three members appointed by the Senate.
- Currently, when we go through this process, there are.
- So there's an evaluation appointment and then there's a casting appointment. there's a fitting appointment
- Not for an appointment scene, as with a physician.
- But currently, that's not the process. And you keep saying this.
Bills:
HB2646, HB3941, HB5153, HB5155, HB5394, HB 1106, HB426, HB4529, HB3984, HB4273, HB 1097, HB3940, HB1941, HB4377, HB3153
Keywords:
child care, task force, high-quality care, affordability, prekindergarten partnerships, foster care, transitional living, Medicaid reform, youth assistance, independent living, services for youth, employment training, educational support, mental health services, health care, public health, child health program, reimbursement, local health entities, maternal health
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Transportation Apr 1st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- They wouldn't have to go through that process.
- In fact, they're in the process of selling numerous sites.
- We're going to confirmation hearings for appointments today.
- He is a new appointment for Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
- Stephanie see couple uses a new appointment for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nomination of Douglas Collins, of Georgia, to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Jan 21st, 2025
Senate Veterans' Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- for all of their VA appointments.
- By the position and the way they process their claims.
- There will always be a person there to oversee that process.
- I think sometimes you have to look at the process.
- Thought process, and perhaps you can have people thinking about this.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Health and Human Services Oversight Committee (03/28/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:19:01.400>
as supportive to us through this process as supportive to us through this process - I think I was appointed by the Senate President.
- I'm sure I wasn't appointed by the Hospital Association. We were appointed by the governor, yeah.
- President I'm sure I wasn't appointed by President I'm sure I wasn't appointed by the<01:37:29.760>
- but legislators are appointed but legislators are appointed differently<01:38:03.080>
than - but legislators are appointed but legislators are appointed differently<01:38:03.080>
Summary:
The committee met on March 28 for a Health and Human Services Oversight Committee meeting, approved the draft minutes from February 21, and then received updates from DHHS on the sudden termination of about $80 million in federal COVID-era funding. Commissioner Lori Weaver and Trisha Tilly said the funding had been expected to continue through September 2026, but an email ending it immediately created a 15-month budget gap. They explained that most of the money supported public health work, especially epidemiology, laboratory capacity, data systems, community health workers, outbreak response, and some behavioral health supports. DHHS said it had notified contractors, was reassessing which activities could continue, and had managed to avoid layoffs for its 20 affected staff by shifting funding sources, though some contract lab staff had to leave and some work would stop or be put on hold. Senators and representatives asked about impacts on labs, staffing, and the state budget lapse, and DHHS said the water lab and testing supplies would be affected and that the department was trying to backfill where possible with other federal funds.
The committee then heard a maternal mortality report from the Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Alison Power and Caroline Naami explained that the MMRC reviews maternal deaths to identify contributing factors and make recommendations, and that it had completed one CDC grant and received another five years of funding. For 2023, the state recorded five pregnancy-associated deaths, including three from overdose, two from cardiovascular causes, and one homicide; the share of deaths related to substance use fell from 62.5% in 2022 to 40% in 2023. Over the 2019–2023 period, half of pregnancy-related deaths were due to overdose, most occurred postpartum, and many involved Medicaid recipients, transportation or financial barriers, and deaths at home. The committee said mental health and substance use remained the main drivers of maternal mortality, but that 79% of pregnancy-related deaths in the five-year aggregate were considered preventable.
Presenters highlighted recommendations and ongoing interventions, including expanding Medicaid coverage through one year postpartum, strengthening behavioral health access, partnering with the Department of Corrections on care for pregnant and postpartum women, and continuing clinical education through the Northern New England Perinatal Quality Improvement Network. Members asked why the maternal mortality rate had declined in recent years; staff said the 2021 spike was tied to the pandemic and that recent declines likely reflected both that spike and the impact of interventions, though the small number of cases makes trends hard to interpret. No additional votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- Senate confirmation number 65 appointing Senate confirmation number 65 appointing Kathy<00:20:30.240
- appointed for them. appointed for them. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Okay.
- senator You all appointed me senator You all appointed me senator to<00:59:20.480>
the <00: - now had to be representatives appointed now had to be appointed<00:59:46.799>
Now <00:59:47.359 - Signed, John Treadwell, Clerk. process gave them that process because process gave them that process
Summary:
The Alabama Senate convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, excused absent senators, and adopted the previous day’s journal. The chamber received several House messages referring local bills to the Committee on Local Legislation, including measures affecting Lawrence, Clayurn, Limestone, Shelby, and Alabaster. The Senate also recognized guests in the gallery, including local leaders, law enforcement officials, and a Jackson County Junior Leadership group.
During personal privilege remarks, Senator Figures offered a tribute to Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr., highlighting his civil rights legacy, political influence, and impact on Black voter participation and representation; the Senate observed a moment of silence. Senator Smitherman also thanked her for the remarks. The Senate then adopted Senate Joint Resolution 47, mourning the death and celebrating the life of John J. Guthrie Jr., and Senate Joint Resolution 48, commending Tommy Jax for emergency actions to help a sick child.
The Senate considered numerous confirmations from the Committee on Confirmations, all receiving favorable reports and being confirmed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll calls, including Walter Bracie and Eric Bone to the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission, Morgan Garner and Susie Beal to the Alabama Electronic Security Board of Licensure, and Joe Brown, Brian Williams, James Spears, Charles Hedrickk, and Kathy Pierce to the Alabama Board of Polygraph Examiners. Committee reports also advanced several bills, including local legislation and county/municipal government measures.
On the floor, the Senate adopted a special order calendar and passed or adopted several bills: SB 239 on child custody jurisdiction enforcement, SB 190 on a sales tax exemption for an ocular eye service company, SB 252 on Governor’s Mansion Authority employees and leave benefits, SB 170 on health savings account regulatory coordination, SB 210 on the chiropractic board, SB 242 on commercial driver’s licenses, and SB 70 on crimes and offenses. SB 247 on insurance was carried over at the sponsor’s request for further work, and SB 83 on guardianships and conservatorships was taken up with discussion of a committee amendment to clarify removal of proceedings from probate to circuit court and notice requirements; the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Military and Veterans Affairs Oct 14th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- We counsel students on benefits and walk them through the application process.
- So that is an ongoing process for us. us right now.
- Reduce missed medical appointments and enhance benefits.
- We provide funding, I believe, right, to our veterans to go to their appointments and stuff.
- They have over a thousand appointments, but we're averaging.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 1/21/25
Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Transcript Highlights:
- 2800 Court staff processing the 1 2800 Court staff processing the 1 million<00:02:44.080>
cases <00:48:43.920>- We have five lawyers appointed by the Supreme Court and four non-attorneys appointed by the governor.
the responsibilities are to appoint the responsibilities are to appoint the - <00:48:49.000>
our funding from the legislature appoint our funding from the legislature appoint - an a process an a process for<01:02:57.119>
corporations <01:02:57.680>to <01:02:57.920
Summary:
The House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee met to approve the January 16 minutes and then heard a budget presentation from State Court Administrator Jeff Shorba on behalf of the Minnesota judicial branch. Shorba described the courts’ structure, mission, and workload, noting 322 judges, about 2,800 staff, roughly 1 million district court filings annually, and a current budget of about $479 million. He emphasized the branch’s constitutional obligation to provide fair and timely access to justice and said the courts are funded almost entirely through legislative appropriations. He also highlighted recent accomplishments made possible by prior legislative funding, including eliminating the pandemic felony and gross misdemeanor backlog, expanding remote and hybrid hearings, improving courtroom technology, sustaining treatment courts, and increasing pay for interpreters and psychological examiners.
Shorba outlined the judicial branch’s 2026–27 budget request, which he said totals a 12% increase over the starting biennial base. Major requests included $77.3 million in 2026–27 and $104 million in 2028–29 for a 6% judicial salary increase and related compensation costs; $5.1 million in 2026–27 and $1.76 million in 2028–29 for digital accessibility compliance with new federal ADA rules; $4 million in 2026–27 and $800,000 in 2028–29 to modernize justice partner access to court records; $7.2 million in 2026–27 to raise pay for contract psychological examiners; and $18 million in 2026–27 to increase juror pay from $20 to $100 per day and align mileage rates with federal rates. He also discussed ongoing funding needs for interpreter services, jury costs, cybersecurity, and other statutorily required court services, saying temporary funding provided in the prior session will expire and that permanent support is needed.
Members asked questions about treatment courts, employee bargaining, and mental health competency issues. Representative Eric requested more detail on funding for newly launched and existing treatment courts, and Shorba said many treatment courts begin with federal grants before transitioning to state support after about three years. He confirmed the judicial branch negotiates its own employee contracts rather than the executive branch doing so, and said the branch has three unions plus many unrepresented employees. On mental health and competency, Shorba said the branch is focused on obtaining timely psychological evaluations and is not responsible for treatment services themselves, but acknowledged a shortage of examiners and treatment beds and said a related competency board would be testifying the following week. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond adoption of the minutes.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
JHA Public Hearing - Tue Feb 10, 2026 @ 2:00 PM HST
Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- The current law provides for a fair and balanced process for appointing a chief elections officer in
- could potentially delay the appointment could potentially delay the appointment of<00:18:06.559>
- <00:18:22.559>
a the current practice of appointing a the current practice of appointing a - I do procedure for this process.
- . process. process.
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1552, which would make the attorney general the interim chief election officer if that office becomes vacant until the Elections Commission appoints a replacement. The Department of the Attorney General opposed the bill, saying it could create a conflict of interest if the attorney general were both the state’s lawyer and the chief elections officer in any related litigation. The League of Women Voters supported having some interim backup for the office, but said it was not necessarily advocating that the attorney general fill the role. Several other testifiers, including the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women, opposed the bill, arguing the current law already provides for a prompt commission appointment and warning about partisan bias and concentration of power. Supporters, including Indivisible Hawaii, said an interim mechanism is needed to ensure election certification in a crisis. The chair also asked whether any statutory acting capacity already exists, and the attorney general said none was known.
The committee then took up House Bill 2125, which would bar corporations operating under state law from engaging in election activity. The attorney general opposed the bill, citing Citizens United and arguing that corporations have First Amendment-protected political speech rights and that the bill would likely be unconstitutional. Indivisible Hawaii supported the measure, saying it would keep elections focused on the will of the people rather than corporate influence. Libertarian Party testimony was mixed: one witness supported the goal of reducing corruption but warned the bill could suppress organized dissent and sweep too broadly by treating many associations as corporations. The bill’s introducer asked whether the legislature could still enact it as a policy matter, but the attorney general maintained federal constitutional law would control. No vote was taken on either bill during the portion of the hearing provided.
The committee also heard House Bill 2493 on wrongful imprisonment, which would set procedures and compensation for people whose convictions are reversed or vacated on grounds consistent with innocence and whose charges are dismissed. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation supported the bill’s intent but objected to language assigning it responsibility for helping released individuals secure housing, identification, health coverage, and other reentry needs, saying it no longer has jurisdiction after release and suggesting the courts or a community-based contractor handle that role. The Office of the Public Defender strongly supported the bill, emphasizing the harm of wrongful conviction and the need for compensation, case management, and medical coverage after release. No action or vote was reported on this measure in the excerpt.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- So the first one is we've got an appointment with the Arkansas Psychology Board.
- This is a board-certified behavioral analyst appointed by the Arkansas Psychology Board.
- One member who is a clinical geneticist appointed by UAMS.
- One member who is a clinical geneticist appointed by UAMS.
- One member who is a clinical geneticist appointed by UAMS.
Summary:
The Arkansas Legislative Autism Task Force approved the April 1, 2026 meeting minutes and then reviewed several vacant membership slots on the task force, including appointments from the Arkansas Psychology Board, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield, UAMS, and parent or guardian positions. Members discussed trying to fill those vacancies before the next meeting, and noted that if they remain open they may be addressed in the task force’s legislative report and through possible statutory changes in the next General Assembly.
Representatives from the Developmental Disabilities Provider Association (DDPA) and Civitan Services presented on DDPA’s role serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Arkansas. They said DDPA now represents 80 providers serving more than 13,000 individuals in 75 counties, with services including early intervention, adult day programs, supported employment, intermediate care facilities, work activities, and community/residential waiver services. They also shared survey data on older clients and said these services remain available to seniors with IDD, including people with autism.
The task force then heard a proposal to amend Act 656 of 2021 to include licensed psychological practitioners as qualified providers for autism waiver-related evaluations. The presenter argued this would reduce wait times, avoid duplicate assessments, and help families access services sooner, while still maintaining quality standards. Members asked about training, licensure, and whether other professionals such as speech-language pathologists or audiologists should be included; Dr. Scott noted that current practice already relies on a two-provider model and that speech-language pathologists play a role because autism diagnosis considers communication, cognitive ability, and language. The discussion also touched on the need for proper testing standards and board oversight. No vote was taken on the amendment, and the meeting ended with plans to return to fraud-related discussion and to begin prioritizing recommendations for the 2027 session before adjourning.
NY
New York 2025-2026 Regular Session
New York State Senate Session - 02/25/2026
New York Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- They spent the day meeting with elected officials, learning about the legislative process, and asking
- But people should understand the Board of Regents are people appointed by the Senate and the Assembly
- BUT, PEOPLE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE BOARD OF REGENTS ARE PEOPLE APPOINTED BY THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY
- And then for the at-large seat, we are appointing today Janice Weinman Shorenstein, who is Joining us
- In other states, the governor appoints the commissioner. But New York State is unique.
Summary:
The Senate opened with an invocation focused on memory, gratitude, and recognizing the unseen people who sustain public life, then approved the prior day’s journal and moved through introductions of guests, including domestic violence advocates, medical scholars, and student advocates. Senator Webb’s Resolution 1633, designating February 23, 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Day, was adopted after remarks describing the scope of domestic violence in New York and the need for more survivor services. The chamber also adopted memorial Resolution 1558 honoring Margaret D. Williams, a vocalist, public servant, and community leader, and Resolution 1630 marking the 20th anniversary of Park and Public Lands Advocacy Day, with comments emphasizing the health and community benefits of parks and green space.
The Senate then took up a series of bills on the calendar, passing measures including amendments to the Environmental Conservation Law, Labor Law, Education Law, Administrative Code of New York City, General Municipal Law, Tax Law, Cannabis Law, and Executive Law. Senator Ramos explained her support for the labor bill as the Anti-Waiver of Employment Rights Act, which would prevent employers from forcing workers to waive labor and human rights protections in applications or onboarding documents. Several bills were passed by wide margins, while some were laid aside for the day. The chamber also restored Senate Print 438 to the third reading calendar after reconsideration.
A contested amendment to Calendar 234, Senator Comrie’s Executive Law bill, was ruled non-germane by the chair; Senator Walczyk appealed, arguing the amendment addressing the state energy code and all-electric building mandate was relevant to housing costs, but the Senate voted 20 to sustain the chair’s ruling. The underlying bill was then returned to the non-controversial calendar and passed. Finally, the Senate adopted a concurrent resolution electing two members to the Board of Regents, with supporters praising the nominees’ experience and critics objecting to the limited vetting time; the resolution passed 42-15. The Senate then adjourned until Thursday, February 26 at 11:00 a.m.