Video & Transcript Research : 'initial appearance'
Page 63 of 500
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- Anyone wishing to speak before the committee should complete an appearance form and hand it to a member
- Seeing no questions, are there appearance forms for the bill? There certainly are.
- Senators, that concludes appearance forms. Is there a debate on the bill?
- Seeing no questions on the amendment and no appearance forms on the amendment, is there debate on the
- one appearance form on the bill as amended.
Keywords:
property assessment, wind damage, home improvements, real estate, tax exemption, Florida statutes, ad valorem taxes, property listings, tax estimation, disclosure, Florida, residential property
Summary:
The committee heard and passed three bills before moving to a staff presentation on the state revenue forecast and the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. SB 856, by Senator DeSantis? [sic], would require online real estate listing platforms to display estimated property taxes for residential properties using prescribed methods and DOR-developed formulas rather than the current owner’s tax bill. Supporters from county, city, and property appraiser groups said the bill would improve transparency and help homebuyers avoid surprise tax and escrow increases. The bill was reported favorably after debate about making sure the estimate appears on realtor and platform sites for first-time buyers.
SB 110, by Senator Arrington, was amended and then reported favorably. The bill clarifies that people holding 98-year-or-longer residential leases remain eligible for the homestead tax exemption even if the lease ends upon the tenant’s death, aligning those leaseholds with life estates for estate-planning purposes. The amendment, supported by the Florida Bar’s real property, probate and trust law section, clarified that lease provisions terminating at death are valid under current law. SB 434, by Senator Leak, was also reported favorably; it would prevent property tax assessments from reflecting increased just value attributable to wind-hardening improvements such as stronger roof attachments, shutters, and roof-to-wall reinforcements.
The committee then received an update from staff director Azar Khan on the new general revenue forecast. He said collections had been running slightly above estimate overall, but the Revenue Estimating Conference reduced corporate income tax projections because of weaker recent collections and uncertainty around tariffs, while increasing some other revenue sources. Members then discussed the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which staff said would significantly reduce Florida corporate income tax revenue, with a large first-year impact driven by retroactive provisions such as bonus depreciation, research expensing, and business interest deductions. Senators and the appropriations chair said the forecast and federal changes would affect budget planning, and the committee adjourned after noting the bills had been favorably reported and the meeting was complete.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law Committee 2/25/25
Judiciary Finance and Civil Law
Transcript Highlights:
- They said they would also appear later today for another reason, and noted they were a member of the
- It was from a person I had issued a warrant for to appear at a court appearance.
- It was from a person I had issued a warrant for to appear at a court appearance.
- You don't have anybody that you pay a salary to at all, and it appears, right, from what you've just
- right from what you've just appears right from what you've just described<01:32:59.639>
and <01
Keywords:
corporate governance, shareholder rights, beneficial ownership, defective corporate acts, Minnesota Business Corporation Act, trusts, Uniform Trust Code, probate, estate planning, trust protector, directed trust, investment trust advisor, distribution trust advisor, excluded fiduciary, decanting, power of appointment, revocable trust, irrevocable trust, uneconomic trust, rule against perpetuities
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- So, it appears that he has served a minimum of five years already.
- day long because they go through the persons who are the subject of the action have the ability to appear
- So, I think when I initially saw the bill, basically what it does is it prevents.
- And so you received input on the initial bill from the two largest municipalities.
Bills:
HB3045
Keywords:
accident response, motor vehicle, law enforcement, fire department, fee prohibition, 914, all
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services Apr 10th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Seeing none, we don't have any appearance forms. Is there a debate?
- Okay, no appearance forms on the bill. We’re in debate.
- For appearance forms, members of the debate? Thank you. That’s it.
- Seeing none, I don't have any appearance forms or debate.
- Are there appearance forms?
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services met to consider a full agenda of bills, moving quickly through 20 measures and several amendments. Early bills reported favorably included SB 976 on procedures for challenging court-appointed psychologists in family law cases, SB 306 on Medicaid managed care provider access outside regular business hours, and SB 584 on housing supports for foster youth and college students, which drew supportive testimony from former foster youth and was backed by members as a way to improve stability and educational opportunity. The committee also approved SB 1412 to modernize home health regulations and SB 1800 to create a Parkinson’s research consortium at USF, with members citing the need for more research and future funding opportunities. The committee adopted amendments on several bills, including technical and conforming changes to the Parkinson’s bill and other measures.
The committee then advanced a series of health care and child welfare bills. SB 524 added Duchenne muscular dystrophy to newborn screening; SB 1156 revised the Home Health Aide Program for medically fragile children, including training, reimbursement, and work-hour flexibility; and SB 1490 reorganized services for medically fragile children by shifting program administration to AHCA and requiring a redesign plan for the Medicaid waiver. SB 1174 allowed foster home and child-caring agency licenses to be amended when a foster parent relocates, and SB 1620 implemented selected recommendations from the Commission on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders, including a new research center at USF and school-based behavioral health review requirements. SB 1568 revised e-prescribing exemptions, and SB 78 authorized certain veterans’ nursing home beds and related certificate-of-need transfers. All of these measures were reported favorably after brief debate or supportive testimony.
Several bills prompted more extensive discussion and some opposition. CS for CS SB 1270, the Department of Health agency package, included provisions on vaccination-related patient rights, medical marijuana reporting, background screening, temporary licensure, compact participation, and sovereign immunity for volunteer dentists; it passed despite concerns from Senators Berman, Brodeur, and Harrell about vaccination language and board/voting-power provisions. CS for SB 1606 on patient access to records drew strong opposition from physicians and health information professionals over privacy, security, fines, and portal access; it was initially reported unfavorably, then reconsidered and ultimately reported favorably as a committee bill. CS for SB 1736, allowing insulin administration by direct support professionals and relatives for individuals with developmental disabilities, and SB 1808, requiring timely refunds to patients, both passed. CS for SB 1842, requiring referring providers to help patients determine whether referred providers are in-network, also passed over concerns about burden on small practices.
The committee also advanced SB 1354, a behavioral health oversight bill requiring audits, performance reporting, and system transparency measures for managing entities, and SB 1768, which authorizes physicians to perform certain stem cell therapies using specified products and requires informed consent; both drew supportive comments but also concerns about patient understanding and oversight. Finally, the committee approved SPB 7032 as a committee bill to create presumptive Medicaid eligibility for permanently disabled individuals during redetermination, and after reconsideration it reported SB 1606 favorably as a committee bill. The meeting ended with members noting their recorded votes on select tabs and adjourning after completing the agenda.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Prohibiting entities from engaging in election activity 3/12/26
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- of corruption which later the appearance of corruption which later courts<00:09:41.600>
have < - , ballot and election initiatives, ballot and election initiatives, I<00:42:28.000>
I <00:42 - It appears to me that we're skipping a very important committee, which would be elections.
- <01:20:12.000>
It <01:20:12.239>appears <01:20:12.480>to <01:20:12.640>me - It appears to me that general register.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Delivery of Government Efficiency Mar 26th, 2025
Delivery of Government Efficiency
Transcript Highlights:
- That particular process was created under an initiative called Project Stella.
- And that's really the first thing that appears.
- It appears you had the best score, and Driscoll as well actually.
- I'm not a lawyer, and I know we have lawyers on this committee, but it appears...
- Turns out we're here for a lot of reasons, it appears.
Bills:
HB149, HB252, HB643, HB1442, HB1500, HB1672, HB1851, HB1893, HB2028, HB2768, HB2818, HB149, HB252
Keywords:
artificial intelligence, regulation, biometric data, ethical AI, consumer protection, AI governance, employment compensation, state agencies, salary payments, general appropriations, government efficiency, public works, contractors, payment bonds, government contracts, construction law, transparency, open meetings, government accountability, public access
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery
Transcript Highlights:
- The other point I wanted to make today may seem obvious, but I've worked with some mandatory initiatives
- The other point I wanted to make today may seem obvious, but I've worked with some mandatory initiatives
- Yet under the current law, LMHCs are not authorized to initiate Section 12, even when we are the only
- Within the course of my work in the court clinic, there are occasions when a youth appears before the
- Allowing LMHCs to initiate...”
Summary:
The committee held its fourth public hearing of the 2025-2026 session on bills dealing with involuntary commitment and access to addiction treatment, especially proposals to move Section 35 civil commitments away from jails and prisons and into facilities licensed or approved by DPH or DMH. Chairs Velis and Domb framed the hearing as a discussion of how to support people in crisis with compassion, while also warning against using involuntary commitment as a way to remove unhoused people from public view. The hearing also touched on related concerns about discharge practices, treatment capacity, and the need for a broader continuum of care.
Testimony split largely along two themes. Addiction researcher Keith Humphreys argued that many people enter treatment under pressure, that involuntary treatment can be ethically justified in the face of overdose risk, but that it should not be mandated unless high-quality services exist first; he emphasized the need for inpatient care when someone is a grave danger, followed by case management and outpatient support. MAMH’s Kate Alicante supported the bill, saying Massachusetts is the only state that commits people with substance use conditions to jails or prisons and that carceral settings add trauma and stigma; she pointed to prior legislative steps, including the Section 35 commission and the planned closure of DOC’s MESAC facility, as evidence that the Commonwealth is moving toward health-based settings.
A major portion of the hearing focused on Stony Brook, a sheriff-run stabilization and treatment center in Hampden County. Boston City Councilor John Fitzgerald, several committee members, and multiple people in recovery described the facility as humane, well-run, and effective, with longer stays, medical monitoring, medication-assisted treatment, counseling, and warm handoffs to aftercare. Several witnesses said Stony Brook saved their lives or helped family members recover, and they argued that the sheriff’s office model should be expanded rather than eliminated. Others, including family members and advocates, countered that even a well-run correctional setting remains stigmatizing and that people should not be treated in facilities run by sheriffs or corrections when they have committed no crime.
No vote was taken. The hearing concluded with continued testimony, including Senator Friedman’s support for Section 35 as a civil commitment tool but not in a criminal justice setting, and her separate support for a bill to speed inpatient mental health treatment.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
FL House Floor Session - 2025-04-24 (10:00AM Session)
Florida House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- . ...mentorship, workforce development programs, and student-led initiatives.
- It does not specifically mention anything related to ballot initiatives or referenda.
- It could have been about future ballot initiatives.
- specifically about ballot initiatives.
- Just for clarity, so the bill appears to remove encryption on social media devices, correct?
Summary:
The Senate convened with opening prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, and several recognitions and introductions, including guests from Miami Northwestern Senior High School, Clay County, and a moment of silence for Pope Francis. The chamber then took up a motion to reconsider the prior day’s failed vote on CS for SB 1080 (local government land regulation), which was adopted without objection, and moved into the special order calendar.
A series of bills were debated and mostly passed, often after substituting House companions. Measures approved included funding for expedited DNA testing grants, additional aggravating factors in capital cases, fertility preservation coverage for cancer patients, commuter rail indemnification, migrant vessel disposition, specialty license plates, an Alzheimer’s and dementia awareness campaign, relocation of the Council on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys to Florida Memorial University, charter school changes, sexual offender registration updates, utility worker assault/battery penalties, juvenile justice revisions, student mental health outcome reporting, foster home licensure transfers, water access facilities, Florida Virtual School changes, school readiness resources for children with disabilities, sexual images/child exploitation penalties, tampering with electronic monitoring devices, certified recovery residences, the FSU Election Law Center, the Office of Faith and Community, and bonuses for county tax collector/property appraiser employees. Several bills were temporarily postponed, including measures on social media use by minors, veterans’ nursing homes, Parkinson’s disease, mental health and substance use disorders, education, educator preparation, benefits for certain officers injured in the line of duty, school social workers, and brownfields.
Debate centered on public safety, health care access, education, recovery housing, and government administration. Some of the most substantive discussion came on the Office of Faith and Community bill, where an amendment to bar political activity by office staff was offered and defeated after extended debate over election-related communications and the proper scope of existing ethics laws. The certified recovery residences bill also drew extensive support and testimony about addiction recovery and housing stability. Most bills passed on strong bipartisan votes, with a few receiving notable opposition, including the charter schools bill, the aggravating factors bill, and the Office of Faith and Community bill.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And so what that means is that that initial The initial interaction with law enforcement is completely
- It's the agency initiating the seizure. Will you show...
- So, it appears to me, and let me know what your thoughts are, that.
- Prosecutor-initiated resentencing.
- The prosecutor can initiate a review.
Bills:
HB867, HB1347, HB1801, HB1820, HB2197, HB2617, HB3110, HB3166, HB3330, HB4237, HB4342, HB4629, HB4933, HJR148
Keywords:
criminal case dismissal, attorney discretion, law enforcement misconduct, judicial approval, evidence, judicial consent, transparency, healthcare, Medicare, insurance, elderly, retired, benefits, access, cost, criminal justice, case dismissal, prosecutorial discretion, law enforcement oversight, criminal procedure
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- You've appeared at the hearings.
- at the hearings you have you've appeared at the hearings you have been<00:15:32.120>
backing < - No person should... known address no Financial reason to known address no Financial reason to appear<
- in court and no responsibility appear in court and no responsibility for<00:23:19.480>
their < - These lot size requirements were put in place initially to ensure that lot soils have the ability to
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Science, Technology and Energy (03/03/2025)
Science, Technology and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- Section 2 of the bill appeared to be the primary area of concern, specifically the striking of line 8
- before the commission to advocate appear before the commission to advocate for<00:15:10.440>
the< - before where the department has appeared before the<00:20:22.880>
commission <00:20:23.840> - and the changes in the bill it appears and the changes in the bill it appears that<01:17:29.679>
- <05:26:46.480>
Investments when we made those initial Investments when we made those initial
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- I appear today on behalf of the patients of Arizona, your constituents, and you.
- Finally, the amendment requires ADEQ and ADWR to initiate rulemaking rather than adopting rules within
- cannot just create additional burdens or requests of the agency hoping that water will magically appear
- a certificate of an irrigation grandfathered right in any active management area, rather than an initial
- We're basically updating this from the initial active management areas to include the new subsequent
Keywords:
cosmetics, animal testing, prohibition, manufacturers, sales regulation, state preemption, groundwater, water conservation, Arizona water resources, drought management, water quality, solar radiation management, environment, regulation, Arizona Revised Statutes, weather modification, licensing, environmental impact, public safety, cloud seeding
Summary:
The Natural Resources Committee approved the minutes from January 20 and January 27, 2026, then heard several bills related to weather modification, water policy, wildlife, cosmetics, and groundwater management. SB 1278 would ban intentional solar radiation management in Arizona and bar public entities or recipients of public funds from supporting related technology development. Supporters argued it was needed to stop harmful geoengineering, while opponents said it would block research and distract from real pollution problems. The committee voted 5-2 with one not voting to give SB 1278 a do pass recommendation.
The committee then considered SB 1279, which would regulate weather modification licenses, require ADWR and ADEQ review of chemicals, public notice, and public meetings, and—under a proposed strike-everything amendment—shift complaint enforcement to ADWR and require rulemaking. Testimony was largely in support from stakeholders and SRP, while ADEQ was neutral but warned it lacked standards, resources, and expertise to develop the required chemical limits on the bill’s timeline. The committee adopted the amendment and then passed the bill as amended 5-2 with one not voting.
Members next passed SB 1005, which would prohibit the sale of cosmetics developed with animal testing, with supporters citing cruelty concerns and industry alternatives; the bill received a do pass recommendation 4-2 with two not voting. SB 1202, requiring ADWR to include more detailed data in five-year groundwater supply-and-demand assessments, drew opposition from ADWR over feasibility, cost, and the risk of misleading conclusions, but still received a do pass recommendation 4-2 with two not voting. The committee also passed SB 1280, which would bar Game and Fish from using public funds to transport Mexican gray wolf pups into Arizona; wildlife advocates opposed it as harmful to recovery, while Game and Fish said it would not affect core responsibilities and was neutral. Finally, SB 1287, with a conforming amendment, was approved 5-1 with two not voting to extend certain irrigation grandfathered-right groundwater uses to subsequent active management areas. The committee then adjourned.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Feb 5th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- silence all electronic devices and anyone wishing to speak before the committee should complete and appearance
- I'm proud to say that FDLE now has a comprehensive five-year strategic plan that we initiated in July
- And we heed the call next for special Programs, Peas, there's these are initiatives that are statewide
- And just for just for note, been the initiation and going up on a wire.
- Our current biometric identification solution went into production in 2009 with an initial 5 year life
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Legislative Finance Dec 9th, 2025 at 01:24 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- So then, Chairman, if grandma's providing care, then in the new... initiative where universal childcare
- LFC agrees that it was initially created as a work support program to economically allow people to go
- Haley Hines, Director of Policy Research and Quality Initiatives; Sonia Martinez, our Communications
- I think some of those are through other initiatives that we've done in school districts.
- The $250 million in recurring money is not going to magically appear in the next year.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
February 5, 2025 - 03:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- Initial forecasts provide a basis for budgeting and resource allocation.
- Initial forecasts provide a basis for budgeting and resource allocation.
- And I think our initial projections are solid.
- The issue we're facing is, Losses, and I think our initial projections are solid.
- So our initial projections now are off.
Summary:
The Pre-K through 12 Budget Subcommittee met to review how Florida’s Education Finance Program (FEFP) works, receive an update from the Department of Education on the October 2024 FTE survey and third FEFP calculation, and hear from three county superintendents about forecasting enrollment and reconciling scholarship students. The chair explained that FEFP is funded by both state and local dollars, is recalculated multiple times during the year, and is now closely tied to school choice policy. Department staff said the third calculation was still being rerun but should be completed soon, and described the forecasting process as collaborative among districts, DOE, and the Education Estimating Conference.
Superintendents from Polk, St. Lucie, and Hendry counties said enrollment shifts, especially students moving to Family Empowerment Scholarships, homeschooling, or private schools, make budgeting and staffing difficult. They said districts often must hold back funds to protect against midyear losses, which affects collective bargaining, staffing, transportation, and classroom organization. Several members raised concerns about duplicate counting, transparency, and whether students receiving scholarship funds can also remain in district classrooms. DOE said districts can access scholarship information through a secure portal and that scholarship funding organizations are paid quarterly, with a new process requiring certification and possible future payment adjustments to reduce duplication.
The superintendents urged better real-time tracking of students through a statewide ID or student information system and suggested scholarship students should be funded separately from district FEFP calculations. Members also discussed whether more frequent or daily attendance-based calculations would improve accuracy, though some warned that daily attendance could create new problems for high-poverty districts. The committee also briefly discussed categoricals, including mental health and ESE funding, with DOE saying it evaluates programs through studies, reporting requirements, and legislative direction. No votes were taken; the meeting ended with a motion to rise and adjourn.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 3/27/25
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- So we've had an initial request for comment put out.
- So we've had an initial request for comment put out.
- comment we've had an initial request for comment put<00:21:39.520>
out. - He said they do not foresee an initial significant budget impact at this time.
- c> wasn't<00:58:55.839>
any appeared like there wasn't any appeared like there wasn't any
Keywords:
HF1587, Cass County, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, DNR, condemnation, eminent domain, state land, surplus land, public waters, tribal land transfer, federally recognized Indian Tribe, tribal ownership, land conveyance, no consideration, land appropriation, natural resources, U.S. Highway 2, Section 27 Township 145 North Range 28 West, land return, Tribal sovereignty
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:08:53.800>
Capital planned on where the initial Capital planned on where the initial Capital - It just appears that there was some miscalculation in how to prepare or how to fund these projects, and
- It just appears that there was some miscalculation in how to prepare or how to fund these projects, and
- that there was some appears that there was some miscalculation<00:20:36.039>
in <00:20:36.840> - It is a long-term public project; it can take 8 to 10 years from initial appropriation to final credit
US
Transcript Highlights:
- This purge appears to be a coordinated effort throughout the Department of Justice and the FBI, and it
- The first is, when President Trump was indicted in Florida first, the prosecutors in that case initially
- The initial submission said they didn't think that... ...that the former president of the United States
- Every court appearance, you stood up and you said you were there on behalf of the United States.
- There will not even be a whiff. of an investigation that appears to have a political motivation to it
Keywords:
nominations, Deputy Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, Todd Blanch, Gail Slater, confirmation hearing
Summary:
The meeting focused on the nominations of Todd Blanch and Gail Slater for the positions of Deputy Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, respectively. The committee considered the qualifications of both nominees, with opening statements provided by the nominees themselves. There was an evident emphasis on the rigorous vetting process that nominees undergo before their selection, highlighting the importance of the roles within the Department of Justice. Members of the committee engaged in a structured question-and-answer session to further evaluate the nominees' capabilities and fit for the positions they were nominated for, with each member allotted seven minutes to pose questions.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Advanced Information Technology, the Internet and Cybersecurity
Transcript Highlights:
- We are seeing the appearance of independent weeklies.
- We are seeing the appearance of independent weeklies that so far haven't figured out a business model
- They often appear to be in a state of withdrawal when they are away from social media.
- But what's come of it initially was innovations, a lot of efficiencies, and, in fact, it's a vibrant
- And the online papers that are starting to appear are very, they are local, but they're very focused
Summary:
The committee held its second hearing on a large docket of technology, internet, cybersecurity, broadband, and media bills. Early testimony focused on community media funding legislation, with lawmakers and local access advocates arguing that as cable subscriptions decline and streaming grows, revenue tied to cable franchises no longer supports community television and PEG programming. Supporters said community media remains a key source of local news, government meeting coverage, and civic transparency as newspapers disappear or consolidate. A related bill on cable contract oversight also drew support, with testimony that the Department of Telecommunications and Cable is backlogged and should more actively review municipal-provider agreements and report its workload to the committee.
Another major topic was a proposal to create a Massachusetts Innovation Fund for state IT modernization. The Alliance for Digital Innovation backed the bill, saying agencies need flexible upfront capital to replace outdated systems and improve cybersecurity, and pointing to the federal Technology Modernization Fund as a model. The witness noted that funding for the state program still needs to be identified. The committee also heard strong support for a bill requiring free broadband in public housing, with Rep. Emmela Goodwin and MAPC describing internet access as essential for jobs, school, telehealth, and civic participation. They said the digital divide in Massachusetts is driven largely by affordability rather than infrastructure, though questions were raised about costs, wiring, and whether all housing sites already have broadband access available at the curb.
A substantial portion of the hearing centered on bills to limit addictive social media feeds for minors. Supporters, including lawmakers, parents, teens, and advocacy groups, argued that algorithmic feeds contribute to addiction, anxiety, body image problems, and other harms, and said the bills would restrict surveillance-based curation and overnight notifications while leaving search and followed accounts available. Opponents, including FIRE, CCIA, and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, argued the bills would require invasive age verification, threaten privacy and cybersecurity, burden adults’ anonymity, and likely face First Amendment challenges. They also warned the measures could disadvantage smaller businesses and may be unconstitutional based on recent court rulings in other states. The committee also heard support for blockchain-related bills creating a commission, a pilot program, and consumer education efforts, with testimony that Massachusetts has the talent but needs a coordinated state strategy. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.
AR
Transcript Highlights:
- time that members of this body would like someone from the government, from the administration, to appear
- He did not appear. The subpoena, the chair said he would entertain a motion to issue a subpoena.
- If they want to take a slap in the face by someone not appearing before a select committee of this body
- And he has not appeared. And the governor's office took an escape.
- this 10% that you did lower—obviously there is a window of money that you didn't receive on your initial
Summary:
The committee first reviewed a list of bills already marked ready for due pass, including several House bills (HB 1010, 1018, 1020, 1023, 1041, 1055, 1077) and Senate bills (SB 4, 16, 24, 55, 59), along with a few items in the budget packet. The JBC Personnel Subcommittee report was then taken up, and Senator Rice offered a substitute motion to separate out the governor’s staff-related item for a separate vote and a roll-call division. After discussion about the request and the underlying personnel issue, the substitute motion failed on a roll-call division, and the committee then adopted the personnel subcommittee report as a whole.
The committee next heard questions for Treasurer John Thurston on House Bill 1034 and the Treasurer’s office budget request. Members raised concerns about salary increases for executive staff, the size of raises under the approved pay plan, office hours, and whether the office was prioritizing raises appropriately. Thurston said the salaries were within the previously approved pay plan, that the request was for full funding of that plan with a negotiated 10% amount, and that office hours remained the same though vault tours had been adjusted for scheduling. Several members expressed dissatisfaction with the increases, while others noted the compromise reached with committee leadership. The committee then adopted the letter for HB 1034.
The committee also considered special language items, including a proposal tied to extension office improvements through a DFA-administered program for the Division of Agriculture, which was described as unfunded. That item was adopted. The committee then moved through the remaining ready items, giving do-pass or adopt motions to SB 29, SB 51, HB 1034, HB 1010, HB 1018, HB 1020, HB 1023, HB 1041, HB 1055, HB 1077, SB 16, SB 23, SB 24, SB 55, and SB 59. SB 4 was set aside as not ready. The meeting adjourned with notice that the committee would reconvene in 15 minutes in another room to handle special language.