Video & Transcript Research : 'hours'
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FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Jan 27th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- IF THEY DON'T PICK THEM UP WITHIN 48 HOURS WE HAVE TO LET THEM GO READ IT SO IT'S ONLY 48 HOURS.
- ICE AT 3 O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON THEY PICK THEM UP AT 4 O'CLOCK THERE NORMALLY WITH US AROUND AN HOUR
- BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLACE FOR THEM TO GO WE CAN HOLD THEM FOR 48 HOURS AND THEN THERE'S GOT TO GET THEM
- HERE WE ARE HAVING TO VOTE ON A BILL THAT IN FAIRNESS WE HAD TWO HOURS TO READ.
- THANK YOU TO ALL OF STAFF THAT WORKED MANY HOURS ON THE PREVIOUS BILLS, THIS BILL, THE AMENDMENTS.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- There are peak hours when it comes to service.
- There are peak hours when it comes to service.
- But similarly, trips are scheduled based on rider requests, usually about 24 hours in advance.
- So we know rush hour is busy.
- But we have reached that hour, I think.
Summary:
The Senate Transportation Committee met, took roll, and heard introductory remarks from members about their districts and transportation priorities, with several senators noting congestion and mobility challenges in their regions. The committee then received a presentation from the Florida Transportation Commission on its oversight role for FDOT, including annual and quarterly performance reviews, review of the five-year work program, and monitoring of tolling and transit authorities. Members asked whether the commission gets involved in project prioritization; the answer was no, because it is statutorily limited to high-level oversight rather than day-to-day project decisions.
The committee next heard two reports related to transportation disadvantaged and paratransit services. FDOT’s Melissa Smith described the statewide Transportation Disadvantaged program, its governance structure, service models, and challenges such as fragmented administration, cost, inconsistent reporting, and rural service limitations. She outlined recommendations including better use of technology, regional partnerships, improved training, and alternative delivery models like microtransit and TNC partnerships. A University of South Florida researcher, Martin Katala, discussed best practices for paratransit and demand-response service, emphasizing route optimization software, dynamic dispatching, service standards, vendor accountability, and the use of TNCs and mobility management to improve efficiency and reduce travel times. A later presentation from UF’s I-Street program focused on emerging technologies for transit, including in-cabin monitoring, automatic restraints, accessible booking and tracking tools, and the need for statewide safety standards and better driver interfaces.
Finally, FDOT Secretary Jared Perdue and District 5 Secretary John Tyler provided an update on the transition of SunRail local entities. They explained the differences among commuter rail, intercity rail, and light rail, and said SunRail’s financial transition to local partners was completed on January 1, with operational transition to follow over up to three years. They contrasted that with Tri-Rail, where FDOT still funds operations and discussions about a future transition are ongoing. Members asked about the differences between SunRail, Tri-Rail, Amtrak, and Brightline, and the presenters explained that commuter rail serves regional daily commuters while intercity rail connects regions. The committee concluded without taking any formal votes or other legislative action.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities
Transcript Highlights:
- Presently, that is only, across the board, generally a uniform policy of one hour per week.
- And then you’re talking about one hour a week for visits.
- Most workers are spending hours per day moving children from one placement to the next.
- Judges to hear and approve removals after hours.
- DCF then must within four hours take steps needed to obtain judicial approval.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities held a hybrid hearing on a series of child welfare bills focused on DCF, foster care, mandated reporting, educational records, and family support. Chair Kennedy and Chair Livingstone opened with accessibility and testimony rules, then heard testimony on bills including S.127 on expanding mandated reporters, S.107/H.235 on a Foster Children’s Bill of Rights, S.106/H.228 on transferring foster care review from DCF to the Office of the Child Advocate, H.258/S.125 on an electronic backpack for foster children’s educational records, H.205 on kinship foster care background checks, H.246/H.266 on minimizing trauma in care and protection cases, and S.159 on support for families after sudden unexpected infant death.
Supporters of the mandated reporter bill, led by Sen. Feeney and Foxborough advocates, described a local model that trains all adults who work with children and argued the state should scale that approach statewide to improve recognition and reporting of abuse. Testimony on the foster care bills emphasized the need for clearer rights, better notice to children and attorneys, stronger remedies, and independent oversight. Advocates, youth with lived experience, and legal organizations described placement instability, delayed notifications, abuse in care, poor educational continuity, and the need for rights around safety, family contact, culture, language, and access to records. Several witnesses urged that the Foster Children’s Bill of Rights include enforceable court remedies, not just reporting requirements.
On the oversight bill, supporters argued DCF should not review its own foster care system and pointed to poor outcomes, high placement instability, and recent investigative reporting as evidence for moving review responsibilities to the Office of the Child Advocate. On the electronic backpack bill, testimony focused on the need for real-time data sharing and a centralized system so schools can receive foster students’ records quickly and support continuity. On the trauma-minimization bill, Rep. Miskin framed the proposal as a set of practical changes to reduce harm during removals and court involvement. On the SUID bill, Sen. Lovely said families should be given information about available grief and support resources after an infant death. No votes were taken during the hearing; the committee primarily received testimony and questions.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development
Transcript Highlights:
- These trucks run 12 to 14 hours a day.
- Every time you're in that cold for a long time, it's a day that we do 10 hours, 16 hours, 17 hours, 8
- hours a day.
- The year that I worked there, I worked 2,710 hours. Every hour of that I was bullied.
- Every hour of that I was bullied.
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development held a lengthy hearing on June 18 focused on workers’ compensation, independent contractor and classification issues, workplace safety, warehouse worker protections, extreme temperature protections, retaliation against injured workers, and workplace bullying. Committee chairs outlined procedures for the hybrid hearing and noted that members would be leaving intermittently for floor votes. Testimony also touched on a bill to expand workers’ compensation disfigurement benefits by removing the current $15,000 cap and extending coverage beyond scars on the hands, neck, and face.
A major theme was workplace safety in warehouses and in extreme heat or cold. Teamsters, warehouse workers, and labor advocates described high injury rates, strict quotas, lack of water, inadequate ventilation, frozen or missing safety equipment, and pressure to work through heat waves and snowstorms. Supporters urged favorable reports on bills protecting warehouse workers and requiring employers to adopt heat- and cold-safety plans, while the NFIB opposed the temperature bill as overly prescriptive and burdensome for small businesses. Sen. Edwards, Sen. Roche, Rep. O’Day, and others argued that the measures are needed to prevent heat illness, provide shade, water, rest breaks, training, and emergency plans, and to cover all workers regardless of immigration status.
Another major subject was the “Act to Protect Injured Workers,” backed by labor groups, immigrant worker centers, legal services organizations, and individual workers. Witnesses said employers often retaliate after injuries by threatening deportation, lying about how injuries occurred, delaying care, or firing workers, and they supported stronger anti-retaliation enforcement, multilingual notices, and a rebuttable presumption of retaliation within 90 days of protected activity. The Mass AFL-CIO and immigrant advocacy groups supported the bill and opposed measures they said would weaken employee classification standards. Testimony also supported a funeral-benefits bill to raise workers’ compensation death-benefit reimbursement for burial and funeral costs, based on a family’s experience after a workplace fatality. The committee heard additional testimony on workplace bullying bills, with some witnesses urging a new legal duty for employers to prevent and respond to bullying, while others described the harms of toxic workplaces and the lack of effective remedies.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Legislative Ethics Board Jun 9th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Transcript Highlights:
- So we spent about an hour and a half talking about that.
- So I had a conversation with Chris Stanley for about an hour.
- I arrived to the Administrative Office of the Courts about half an hour to an hour early because you
- I arrived to the Administrative Office of the Courts about half an hour to an hour early because you
- Final comments, thoughts before we adjourn for two hours until 2:30? Okay.
Summary:
The hearing resumed on day two of the Legislative Ethics Board fact-finding matter involving Representative Tara Simmons. After opening remarks and confirmation that board members had not engaged in outside research or ex parte communications, Simmons’s counsel moved to dismiss two allegations at the close of the board staff’s case: that Simmons pressured the Administrative Office of the Courts to alter a contract in favor of her employer, and that she improperly combined a legislative proviso for AEJG with a personal donation to the organization. Board staff opposed the motion, arguing the evidence showed Simmons’s legislative and private conduct were intertwined and that the board had enough evidence to require a defense. After deliberation, the board denied the motion to dismiss and proceeded to hear defense testimony.
The first defense witness, Sharon Navas, testified that she met Simmons through advocacy work, later hired her at the Equity and Education Coalition (EEC), and maintained written employment policies intended to separate Simmons’s legislative role from her work for EEC. Navas said Simmons was never compensated for lobbying or legislative acts, that EEC paid her from unrestricted funds, and that Simmons did not work on the AEJG dashboard project or participate in the contract dispute with Anthony Powers and Chris Stanley. Navas described the proviso request and later contract issues as separate from Simmons’s legislative duties, and said she continued to pay invoices while the project was being completed.
Simmons then testified about her background, legislative career, disability accommodations, and extensive efforts to seek ethics advice before taking outside employment or pursuing provisos. She said she repeatedly consulted House ethics counsel and reviewed prior board decisions to ensure her outside work and legislative actions were separated. Simmons described her relationship with Anthony Powers, the dashboard project, the proviso process, and her understanding that the work was distinct from her legislative role. The hearing paused for lunch after part of Simmons’s direct examination, with testimony set to continue after the break.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
FL House Floor Session - 2026-04-29 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Senate in Special Session D Apr 29th, 2026
Florida Senate Floor Meeting
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Senate in Special Session D Apr 29th, 2026
Florida Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Not 24 hours ago, I stood right there.
- Over an hour away.
- Twenty-four hours.
- The vote—news flash—it took us a half an hour, an hour to figure this out.
- four hours for the final committee consideration.
Summary:
The Senate convened in special session and took up Senate Bill 8D, later substituting identical House Bill 1D, to establish Florida’s congressional districts. The opening prayer and Pledge of Allegiance were followed by procedural remarks, then extensive floor discussion focused almost entirely on the redistricting proposal, its timing, and its legal basis. Senator Gaetz, explaining the bill, said the Governor had transmitted the map two days earlier, argued that mid-decade congressional redistricting is not prohibited by law, and said the Governor’s stated reasons were to address population growth and to draw race-neutral districts. He also said the legislature could accept, reject, or amend the proposal.
Much of the debate centered on the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent Louisiana decision and whether it affected Florida’s Fair Districts Amendment and the Voting Rights Act. Senators Smith, Rouson, Sharief, Polsky, Arrington, Bracey Davis, Bernard, Nathan, and others questioned the short notice, lack of public hearings, the use of partisan data, the absence of sworn testimony, and whether the map diluted minority voting strength or fragmented communities of interest. Gaetz repeatedly said he was not offering legal opinions, that the Governor’s counsel believed the Fair Districts race-based provisions were inconsistent with federal law, and that any legal challenge would be for the courts. He also said the Governor’s mapmaker reported using census and demographic data, along with political data as one of many inputs, and claimed the map’s compactness was comparable to the current map.
A motion by Senator Smith to temporarily postpone consideration of the bill failed on a 12-23 vote. After the Senate returned from a 30-minute break to review the new Supreme Court decision, debate continued. The chamber then substituted HB 1D for SB 8D, read the House bill, and advanced it to third reading. The transcript ends during debate on final passage, with Senators Rouson and Bernard speaking in opposition and arguing the map was procedurally rushed, legally vulnerable, and politically motivated.
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama House Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Committee Mar 11th, 2026
Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:20:18.000>
a rules to ensure enforcement 24 hours a rules to ensure enforcement 24 hours - you're going more than 10 miles per hour you're going more than 10 miles per hour over<00:21:10.320
- , and things were going 70 miles an hour.
- and things were going 70 miles an hour and things were going 70 miles an<00:22:17.360>
hour. - And of course, you can track an hour.
Keywords:
medical clinic board, clinic board, hospital bankruptcy, Chapter 11, bankruptcy, debt restructuring, municipal indebtedness, municipal bankruptcy, health care provider, acute care hospital, lease property, board immunity, director liability, civil liability, healthcare finance, insolvency, debt readjustment, federal bankruptcy law, Alabama Code 11-58-5.2, library materials
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Public utilities to develop and implement a virtual power plant program 2/24/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- So utility may say, look, I need one megawatt of power for an hour later today.
- Or I'm going to reduce energy usage by one megawatt for that next hour by doing a mix of 10,000 customer
- <00:03:03.200>
later megawatt of power for an hour later megawatt of power for an hour later - Thank you. demand during peak hours, VPPs cut demand during peak hours, VPPs cut expensive<00:25:24.480
- because if we have more kilowatt hours because if we have more kilowatt hours to<00:41:47.280>
Summary:
Representative Craft presented House File 2986, as amended with the DE6, and asked that it be laid over for possible inclusion. He described the bill as an affordability measure centered on virtual power plants, explaining that aggregating distributed energy resources such as solar panels, batteries, EVs, smart thermostats, heat pumps, and water heaters can help utilities reduce peak demand and avoid costly generation and distribution investments. He said the bill would require utilities to reduce system peak through a virtual power plant program by 5% by the end of 2028 and 10% by the end of 2032, using an independent third-party RFP process, with plans incorporated into integrated resource planning and a savings clause if requirements prove infeasible.
Testimony in support came from the Department of Commerce, Vote Solar, Solar United Neighbors, Kite Rocket, and Mincia. Supporters said virtual power plants can function like grid-scale resources, lower spot-market and peak costs, improve reliability and resilience, and make better use of existing distribution infrastructure. Commerce said the approach fits an all-of-the-above strategy and noted consumer protections in the bill, including standards for contracts, disclosures, dispatch frequency, notice, opt-out, and compensation. Several supporters cited estimates of significant savings, including a national DOE estimate of 10% to 20% of peak load by 2030 and a Minnesota-specific estimate from Solar United Neighbors of about $63.5 million in savings if 10% of peak demand were met with VPPs in 2030.
Committee members raised questions about how much cheaper VPPs are than peaker plants and whether utilities, especially Xcel Energy, are already implementing similar programs. Representative Baker expressed concern that the bill could move faster than the technology or market would naturally develop and asked about the risk of forcing utilities into a mandate before the economics are fully proven. In response, a Solar United Neighbors witness pointed to a fact sheet and Brattle Group-based analysis comparing VPP costs and benefits in Xcel territory, while an Xcel representative said the company has been discussing the bill with Representative Craft for months. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion, and no final vote on the bill itself was taken in the transcript.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Natural Resources and Energy (10-16-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- be about an hour and a half<00:03:50.720>
long. - They're only stable for hours.
- They're only stable for<00:20:12.799>
hours. - Uh, and so the work that's for hours.
- getting up into hundreds of hours getting up into hundreds of hours instead<00:20:34.320>
of<
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00
Attendance Roll Call 01:58
Approval of Minutes 03:05
Member Comments 03:18
Nanotechnologies in Energy 06:20, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met and approved the minutes, then heard announcements and introductions from members and guests, including an invitation to an East Kentucky trail ride opening and welcomes for new EPIC and Kentucky Coal Association representatives and several constituents. After the opening business, the committee turned to a presentation on nanotechnology and energy applications by Rodney Andrews of the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research.
Andrews explained how nanoscale materials behave differently because of their size and surface area, and described uses in consumer products, batteries, solar panels, catalysts, coatings, sensors, and energy storage. Members asked about the relationship between nanomaterials and coal, and Andrews said carbon nanotubes can be made from coal-derived hydrocarbons, which members noted as an opportunity for Kentucky’s coal and manufacturing sectors. He also discussed work on improved solar coatings, more stable perovskites, fuel-processing catalysts, hydrogen storage, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel, electromagnetic shielding, and conductive yarns and fabrics.
The presentation also covered more advanced applications such as thermoelectric textiles, power transmission materials, thermal transport composites for aerospace, nanofluids for cooling, and fusion reactor shielding. In the final discussion, members raised questions about electromagnetic pulse protection and quantum computing; Andrews said the materials discussed could absorb and spread energy and that shielding applications may help with EMPs, while quantum computing remains limited by extremely low operating temperatures. No formal votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance Oct 14th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- There are 1,140 instructional hours required.
- All of these changes have contributed to a fewer number of instructional hours.
- You needed every hour in that classroom that you could put information between.
- In addition, that means you have to be open 10 hours a day.
- They have to be open at least 10 hours a day.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Health Finance and Policy Committee 4/2/25 - Part 2
Health Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- There's some of us in this room that have tattoos, and I looked on the website: 200 hours you need to
- on the website 200 hours you need to<00:32:51.679>
be <00:32:51.840>able <00:32:52.000> - I mean, I know people that have spent hours in their specialty, but I would think they would welcome
- for your education and the amount of hours they train on this.
- 05.839>
are <00:55:06.160>wanting have 24-hour operations that are wanting have 24-hour
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Agriculture (2-26-25) - Reupload
Transcript Highlights:
- But ultimately, you know, theoretically, if the Attorney General's office were to spend hours and hours
- He added that if the Attorney General's office spent hours investigating and those costs were charged
- He said that if the Attorney General's office spent hours and hours investigating and the costs were
- <00:30:55.639>
and <00:30:55.799>hours <00:30:56.080>and <00:30:56.200>hours< - /c><00:30:56.559>
investigating hours and hours and hours investigating hours and hours and hours
Keywords:
00:00 -- Introduction
00:13 – Attendance Roll Call
08:25 – Discussion of HB 315
23:45 – Roll call vote on HB 315
26:35 – Discussion of HB 356
46:30 – Roll call vote on HB 356, 958, all
Summary:
The House Agriculture Committee first spent much of the meeting recognizing the large number of 4-H and FFA students and guests in attendance, with members from several counties introducing their groups and praising the programs for developing future agricultural and civic leaders. Comments emphasized the value of youth involvement in agriculture, leadership, and public speaking, and several members noted their own 4-H or FFA backgrounds. The committee then took up House Bill 356, and adopted a committee substitute before hearing testimony on the revised measure.
House Bill 356, sponsored by Representative Carney, would create the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative, expanding the original urban farming concept into broader agricultural education, agribusiness, advocacy, and work-ready skills. The substitute removed the requirement that participants have access to farmland, lowered the age floor from six to five, broadened participation, and established a pilot program with implementation left to Cooperative Extension. Supportive testimony came from a 4-H student and Kentucky 4-H representatives, who described how the program helps youth explore many interests and removes barriers for urban students. Members from both parties praised the bill as a way to reach more youth and strengthen agricultural education. The committee approved House Bill 356 as amended by the committee substitute on a roll call vote, with all members present voting yes.
The committee then heard House Bill 315 from Representative Sharp, a foreign adversary land bill intended to limit certain foreign entities’ ability to purchase Kentucky land. Before member questions, Tim Shank of the Kentucky Bankers Association testified in opposition to one section of the bill, saying banks already screen borrowers through federal systems and that Section 8’s reference to an Attorney General lien for “actual costs” was too vague. He warned the language could create uncertainty for mortgage holders and potentially affect credit availability for farmers. Representative Sharp said he had just learned of the concern and may need to work with the Attorney General’s office to address it. He also said the bill was largely the same as last year’s version, except for the removal of a leasing-related paragraph, and the committee began discussion of the bill after that testimony.
HI
Hawaii 2025 Regular Session
PBS Info Briefing - Thu Aug 28, 2025 @ 2:00 PM HST
Hawaii House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The great thing about this event is we had four hours to prepare prior to the first way first arrival
- You jump in that traffic, it's going to be 3 hours, right?
- , hours, hours, >> right?
- , commutes were three and a half hours, commutes were three and a half hours, but<01:06:16.400>
- We probably could spend a whole six hours on City and County of Honolulu.
Summary:
The House Committee on Public Safety held an informational briefing on hazard mitigation planning and recent tsunami and wildfire threats. Chair Dela Buladi opened by framing the meeting around the need for iterative disaster planning and lessons learned from events such as the Lahaina wildfires, the Puna Coast earthquake/tsunami, and recent wildfire activity. The committee heard first from Hawaii County Civil Defense Administrator Tomage Magno, who explained the federal and local hazard mitigation planning process, including the requirement for an active five-year mitigation plan to qualify for federal disaster funds. He described the plan as a living document built from prior plans, public and agency outreach, risk and capability assessments, and ongoing updates, with county departments, state agencies, and subject matter experts participating in the process.
Magno outlined several FEMA-related mitigation funding programs, including flood mitigation assistance, post-fire assistance, pre-disaster mitigation, revolving loan funds, and dam safety grants. He emphasized that the Hawaii County plan was recently approved by FEMA, that the county council approves the plan, and that the county reviews it annually with a formal revision process beginning in the fourth year. Members asked about how the plan tracks project status, how priorities and funding changes are handled, and whether federal funding programs might be affected by HR1; Magno said the county is proceeding on the assumption that funding will remain available and noted some sources have been reestablished. He also said the county encourages council participation in meetings and planning.
Department of Transportation Director Ed Sniffen then addressed the committee on DOT’s response to a recent tsunami threat, saying the agency had about four hours to prepare before the first wave arrival and was focused on its own operational response rather than the broader statewide planning process. In response to questions, he stated that FHWA funds cannot be used for evacuation routes, which is why prior legislative funding was important. Members also discussed specific mitigation projects such as fire breaks, bridge retrofits, and the Singing Bridge, with DOT noting that work is underway and that a replacement bridge upstream is being planned to carry traffic during repairs. No votes or formal committee actions were taken during the informational briefing.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- you know what's the situation on Hours you know what's the situation on that<00:14:38.279>
so - And so then, you know, that's how the 48-hour rule turns into the 100-day rule, um, and I just think
- Like, when are you going to follow the 48-hour rule?
- And so there was this task force, um, does it blink back on the 48-hour rule?
- Does it blink back on the 48-hour rule? Does it stay? Does it re-blink, or does anybody know? No?
Summary:
The Human Services Committee received an informational overview from Direct Care and Treatment (DCT) staff on the agency’s role and current operations as it transitions from DHS. DCT described itself as Minnesota’s unique state behavioral health system, serving about 12,000 people annually through treatment facilities, residential group homes, and vocational sites, with about 5,000 staff and five major service lines including forensic services and the Minnesota Sex Offender Program. The presentation also reviewed the new executive board required by statute and the 47 work groups created to support DCT’s move to separate-agency status, with staff saying the board is in place, has met, and the work groups are on track for the July 1 deadline.
Committee discussion focused heavily on system capacity, staffing shortages, and discharge bottlenecks. DCT said recruiting and retaining staff remains its top pressure, with many vacancies and overtime contributing to burnout. Members also raised concerns about long waits for admission, lack of step-down and community-based placements, and the effect on county jails and hospitals. DCT said it has expanded some capacity, including increasing beds in Willmar, reopening the Ironwood unit in St. Peter, and repurposing the CARE program site to add 16 forensic beds, but emphasized that the broader problem is the lack of community-based options rather than just DCT beds.
Members also discussed priority admissions and a prior task force process for handling jail referrals. DCT said the priority admissions framework began July 1 of the previous year, uses factors such as medical acuity and impact on referring facilities, and is intended to help with backflow, though it does not solve the underlying bed shortage. Staff said the priority admissions review panel’s report is due February 15. In response to questions about a high-cost one-to-one care placement, DCT said it had found a less costly alternative and that each case has unique needs. DCT also reported progress on an electronic health record rollout and said a substance use disorder report requested by the Legislature is nearing completion.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Revenue Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Revenue
Transcript Highlights:
- I could probably go on for an hour and a half on just the stories that I know, as you do, Rep X, and
- , and I'm very close to every firefighter in my district, to other police officer, and you driving hours
- and hours just to be there with me. and everyone else is in bed those cruisers role as we saw in the
- me and I'm very close to every firefighter in my district to other police officer and you driving hours
- and hours just to be there with me. with me And you're driving hours and hours just to be there with
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hearing on 25 tax and administrative bills, with opening remarks explaining the hearing process and noting that House-filed matters must be reported by December 6. The first major topic was funding for the Massachusetts Law Enforcement Memorial and related support for families of fallen officers. Police representatives, memorial fund advocates, and family members gave emotional testimony urging favorable action on S. 1934 and related bills, emphasizing the need for a permanent revenue stream to maintain the memorial and honor officers killed in the line of duty. Committee members and legislators responded with personal remarks of support and appreciation for law enforcement families.
The committee then heard testimony on a proposed Commonwealth Bitcoin Strategic Reserve, including S. 1967 and related bills. Senator Peter Durant and later Dennis Porter argued that the state should be allowed to invest a limited share of stabilization or other funds in Bitcoin or other regulated digital assets as a hedge against inflation and fiscal risk, with strict caps, custody rules, and audits. They described the proposal as a forward-looking, non-mandatory framework for diversifying state reserves. No vote was taken during the hearing.
Another major topic was disaster resilience funding. Dr. Paul Biddinger of Mass General Brigham supported S. 1936/H. 3030, saying climate-driven flooding, drought, and wildfire risks are increasing and that the State Disaster Relief and Resiliency Trust Fund needs a dedicated revenue source. Senator Comerford also testified in favor, explaining that the fund was created in the prior session, that recent floods showed the need for quick state response, and that the bill would dedicate a portion of capital gains revenue to the fund. Committee members asked about how the fund would accrue and be used. The committee also heard testimony on PILOT and endowment-related bills: AICUM opposed H. 3122/S. 2013 and H. 3264/S. 2016, arguing that an endowment tax and mandatory PILOTs would harm private nonprofit colleges, students, and research; and a representative from Peru supported reform of PILOT formulas for state-owned land, saying rural towns need higher reimbursements and hold-harmless protections. The hearing concluded after testimony on the digital asset bills, with no recorded votes or final actions.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Minnesota House passes bill to cut wait times for prescribed opioid addiction treatment drugs Apr 27th, 2026
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- government in 2025, but states have to approve this so that our pharmacists can be FDA approved by this 8-hour
- government in 2025, but states have to approve this so that our pharmacists can be FDA approved by this 8-hour
- government in 2025, but states have to approve this so that our pharmacists can be FDA approved by this 8-hour
- government in 2025, but states have to approve this so that our pharmacists can be FDA approved by this 8-hour
- "Our pharmacists can be FDA approved by this 8-hour training. It's voluntary, they can do this.
Summary:
House File 4493 would authorize pharmacists to initiate, prescribe, administer, and dispense certain drugs for opioid use disorder, especially buprenorphine/Suboxone. Representative Baker said the bill is intended to save lives by giving people immediate access to treatment at the moment they seek help, rather than making them wait for a doctor’s appointment or navigate more cumbersome methadone access. He emphasized that pharmacists are widely accessible, including in greater Minnesota, and that optional training would support safe prescribing.
Representative Bierman spoke in strong support, calling the measure a life-or-death step forward for people with substance use disorder and noting that many people do not receive treatment when they need it. He said he initially had concerns but Baker listened to his suggested changes and worked with him and bill drafters, which helped address those concerns. Bierman also referenced the ongoing fentanyl crisis and encouraged members to learn more from displays honoring overdose victims.
Baker closed by sharing personal remarks about losing his son to addiction and describing how limited treatment options were at that time. He said the new federal change allowing pharmacist training makes the bill timely and urged members to support it. After discussion, the House took a roll call vote and passed the bill 134-0, with the title agreed to.
IN
Transcript Highlights:
- The last amendment strikes the language where the HOA can charge a search fee of $35 an hour for time
- exceeding one hour.
- Now, when we talk about 18 hours in a subject area, that is not even enough hours.
- Talk about 18 hours in a subject area, that is not even enough hours for a minor.
- For a minor in a subject, you've got to have 24 hours.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Commerce and Tourism Mar 3rd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- THE AMENDMENT WOULD CLARIFY THE EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS CAN BE SENT AND RECEIVED AT ANY HOUR WITHOUT VIOLATING
- MY BILL WOULD ONLY ALLOW EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE OFF-HOURS PROTECTING THE ORIGINAL INTENT OF
- BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 8:00 A.M. AND 9:00 P.M.
- DURING THOSE HOURS ONLY. >> YOU ARE RECOGNIZED. >> THANK YOU SENATOR.
- NOT DURING THE WORKING HOURS, AFTER 9:00 P.M. AND BEFORE 8:00 A.M.