Video & Transcript Research : 'deferred judgment'

Page 67 of 361
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Science, Technology and Energy (01/20/2026)

Science, Technology and Energy

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think that might be an excellent question for the Dig Safe person, but you can go ahead or defer it
  • the dig person, but you can go<01:15:00.560> ahead<01:15:00.800> or<01:15:01.040> defer
  • go ahead or defer it to your choice. go ahead or defer it to your choice.
  • So in the interest of time, I will defer questions. Thank you. >> Okay.
  • the interest of time, I will defer the interest of time, I will defer questions.<03:37:42.239>
Keywords: 1189, house, all
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Select Water Committee, January 21, 2026 - AM

Select Water Committee

Transcript Highlights:
  • And then kind of make a judgment call.
  • kind<00:46:44.560> of<00:46:44.720> make<00:46:44.800> a<00:46:44.960> judgment
  • and then kind of make a judgment call. and then kind of make a judgment call.
  • And feel free to defer. Yeah, or any of you, and then we can have Representative Chestek chime in.
  • And feel free to defer. Yeah, or any of you, and then we can have Representative Chestek chime in.
Keywords: 916, all
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session May 9th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Garam moves to defer the reading and referral of bills until the end of today's meeting.
  • They're really only used... ...So when people are collecting judgments, going after old debts and things
  • This will have a chilling effect on those transactions, and by not deferring to CFIUS, we're essentially
  • Including deferred adjudication community supervision. The Chair recognizes Mr.
  • Number 1650 by Canales, relating to a special bill of review to reform a final judgment of forfeiture
Bills: HJR175, HJR88, HB21, HB49, HB216, HB346, HB573, HB565, HB954, HB1953, HB2686, HB1441, HB2734, HB1650, HB3161, HB2876, HB3185, HB3388, HB2761, HB3233, HB 1186, HB1534, HB5506, HB5129, HB3619, HB778, HB2867, HB3221, HB3672, HB2434, HB4903, HB3687, HB3675, HB4609, HB4582, HB4921, HB3866, HB3901, HB4534, HB2446, HB3984, HB700, HB4012, HB4491, HB4088, HB229, HB4234, HB722, HB4136, HB4105, HB4413, HB170, HB551, HB2858, HB3053, HB3142, HB3180, HB3722, HB2200, HB1794, HB1784, HB1581, HB2530, HB4308, HB1896, HB2974, HB3359, HB4580, HB2458, HB2215, HB3332, HB2278, HB3015, HB3151, HB1368, HCR9, HCR40, HB5138, SB17, HB4944, HB2284, HB3421, SB1569, SB2420, SB1968, SB2351, SB2544, SB1490, SB1349, SB1568, SB2776, HB3531, HB2149, HB4327, HB3158, HB3717, HB4520, SB888, SB552, HB3138, HB3704, HB2921, HB4853, HB4506, HB3892, HJR161, HJR175, HJR88, HB1937, HB3334, HB5444, HB5137, HB361, HB321, HB5447, HB464, HB678, HB2294, HB4172, HB3225, HB1769, HB5394, HB1837, HB1787, HB2271, HB2440, HB5134, HB5149, HB2151, HB2073, HB2186, HB2025, HB1936, HB1777, HB1663, HB 1306, HB 1290, HB1527, HB4802, HB3462, HB2963, HB2462, HB2560, HB644, HB2725, HB2621, HB2588, HB1443, HB1403, HB3032, HB1557, HB1664, HB2811, HB2088, HB2598, HB3062, HB3134, HB3940, HB4027, HB4097, HB4862, HB4170, HB4157, HB4205, HB4279, HB4377, HB4838, HB5424, HB5294, HB4870, HB4763, HB5639, HB4112, HB2275, HB1677, HB5014, HB3848, HB3797, HB3727, HB3709, HB3177, HB3057, HB4176, HB4202, HB2180, HB3528, HB3658, HB21, HB49, HB216, HB346, HB573, HB565, HB954, HB1953, HB2686, HB1441, HB2734, HB1650, HB3161, HB2876, HB3185, HB3388, HB2761, HB3233, HB 1186, HB1534, HB5506, HB5129, HB3619, HB778, HB2867, HB3221, HB3672, HB2434, HB4903, HB3687, HB3675, HB4609, HB4582, HB4921, HB3866, HB3901, HB4534, HB2446, HB3984, HB700, HB4012, HB4491, HB4088, HB229, HB4234, HB722, HB4136, HB4105, HB4413, HB170, HB551, HB2858, HB3053, HB3142, HB3180, HB3722, HB2200, HB1794, HB1784, HB1581, HB2530, HB4308, HB1896, HB2974, HB3359, HB4580, HB2458, HB2215, HB3332, HB2278, HB3015, HB3151, HB1368, HCR76, HCR127, HCR9, HCR40
OR

Oregon 2026 Regular Session

Senate Chamber Convenes 06/17/2026 11:00 AM

Oregon Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is one reason to keep your children off social media; their judgment about what to post on the internet
  • underscored that the format of our current Oregon QAM cost modeling is categorically a professional judgment
  • The professional judgment we need to include at the quality education table is that of educators, classified
  • in Senate Ed highlighted that Oregon does not yet fully employ best practices of the professional judgment
Keywords: 907, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Debate on bringing up a semiautomatic military-style assault weapons bill 3/26/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Quantitative judgments do not apply, right?
  • Quantitative judgments do not apply.
  • Quantitative judgments do not apply. What if we pass this bill and we only saved 10 people?
  • Or you can think about the two people, quantitative judgments don't apply, y'all.
  • Quantitative judgments do not apply.
Keywords: 1183, house
WY

Wyoming 2026 Regular Session

Joint Minerals, Business & Economic Development Committee, June 4, 2026 - PM

Minerals, Business & Economic Development

Transcript Highlights:
  • Why would we want to defer to the existing agreement, which says, "Nope, you're going to have to wait
  • Well, here goes an exercise of bad judgment, probably.
  • I'm going to go ahead judgment probably.
  • Um, I would defer to Miss years, has it?
  • <03:33:06.319> until program we're going to defer until program we're going to defer until
Keywords: 916, all
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Ways and Means (01/28/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • <03:13:26.000> to with what we're spending uh I defer to with what we're spending uh I defer
  • I'd have to defer to Dr.
  • I'd have to defer to Dr.
  • I'd have to defer to Dr.
  • I'd have to defer to Dr.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee held a public hearing on HB 135, introduced by Representative Michael Harrington. He said the bill would codify a portion of the New Hampshire Constitution to bar New Hampshire businesses from being required to collect sales or use taxes for other states unless Congress mandates it, arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court’s Wayfair decision created an onerous compliance burden for businesses. He described the patchwork of state and local sales tax rules, thresholds, and product exemptions as extremely complex and said the bill was intended to push the issue back toward Congress and the courts. Members questioned whether the bill’s reference to a “foreign government” would apply to other U.S. states, whether the proposal would conflict with the Supremacy Clause, and whether it would create standing for businesses to challenge Wayfair. Harrington responded that “foreign government” meant any government other than New Hampshire, that he believed the state could challenge the decision in court by passing a law contrary to Wayfair, and that businesses were already being harmed by compliance costs. Some members raised concerns about whether the bill was an unfunded mandate or simply a private compliance burden, and Harrington argued that the state itself would not be collecting the taxes, but businesses would still face recordkeeping and administrative costs. Sam Garland of the Department of Justice then testified. He said the department was not taking a formal position on the bill, but offered technical comments. Garland acknowledged that Wayfair created significant compliance burdens and noted that states have become somewhat more uniform, with all states now having a $100,000 economic nexus threshold, though not all use the 200-transaction threshold and local tax variation remains substantial. He said the department’s concerns were legal, describing the issue as uncharted constitutional territory involving both vertical and horizontal federalism. No vote or final action was taken during the hearing.
NH

New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session

House Finance Division II (03/03/2025)

Transcript Highlights:
  • <01:02:27.480> leaving<01:02:27.720> to<01:02:27.839> your<01:02:28.039> judgment
  • <01:02:28.440> but again I'm leaving to your judgment but again I'm leaving to your judgment
  • <01:35:23.480> to<01:35:23.719> to but I'll defer to to but I'll defer to to them<01
  • Our newest one is 50, 55 years old, and we deferred maintenance on these facilities for years because
  • And we deferred maintenance on these facilities for years because of budget constraints.
Keywords: 928, house, all
Summary: The committee heard a presentation from the University System of New Hampshire chancellor on the system’s budget, enrollment, finances, workforce role, and response to federal policy changes. The chancellor said the governor’s recommended budget would reduce university system funding by about $16.5 million over the biennium, or roughly 8.3%, and asked that state funding be held at the governor’s level. She described planned cost reductions already underway, including lower headcount, reduced benefits and retirement contributions, property sales, and lease reductions, and said the system expects to remove about $20 million from its cost structure in fiscal year 2026. A large portion of the discussion focused on enrollment and finances. The chancellor said fall 2024 enrollment was about 23,000, with New Hampshire enrollment increasing for the first time since 2013, and noted that the system remains a major workforce pipeline, with about 3,000 graduates entering the state workforce each year. She explained that net tuition has fallen over time because of declining enrollment and increased financial aid, while research grants and contracts have grown significantly. She also walked through endowment funding, explaining that payouts are based on a 12-quarter rolling average and are intentionally smoothed to reduce volatility; members asked for follow-up information on payout comparisons, administrative salaries, headcounts, and compensation per student. Members questioned the university about the relationship between state support, tuition, endowments, and research spending. The chancellor said the system has used state capital support to leverage major investments, including the UNH Life Sciences building, Plymouth’s Hyde Hall, and the Olson Advanced Manufacturing Center, and described partnerships with businesses such as Lonza and regional manufacturers. She also explained a long-running New Hampshire 529-related revenue stream that has built endowment support for scholarships, and said the system’s endowment now totals about $988 million. In response to questions about possible cuts, she said the system is considering academic program sharing, consolidation of specialties, online delivery, AI-assisted administrative efficiencies, and footprint reductions, but declined to name specific programs. The committee also discussed DEI-related issues and federal grants. The chancellor said the system is reviewing executive orders and a U.S. Department of Education Dear Colleague letter, and that general counsel is working through websites, programs, and more than 1,200 federal grants to ensure compliance. She said the system spends about $3 million on what it calls DEI-related offices and services, but emphasized that these services include disability support, veteran support, Title IX, ADA, and employment-law compliance, and that the system does not have race-based programs, separate housing, or separate graduation ceremonies. She reported that the system had received stop-work orders on four federal grants totaling about $700,000 and warned that reductions in federal direct or indirect costs could affect research, jobs, and innovation.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Executive Departments and Administration (01/22/2026)

Executive Departments and Administration

Transcript Highlights:
  • professional judgment, ethical professional judgment, ethical responsibility,<04:47:42.878> and
  • <04:48:09.680> Board<04:48:10.000> discretion engineering judgment.
  • <04:48:17.840> HB<04:48:18.400> 1060 judgment, working together.
  • HB 1060 judgment, working together.
  • court delivers a negative judgment court delivers a negative judgment against<05:17:42.400> them
Keywords: 1189, house, all
FL

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Criminal Justice Apr 1st, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • You're recognized take up Tab. 11 SB 1430, post judgment execution proceedings related to terrorism.
  • Janice family, Judith Tom's widow and his 4 children, Christopher Michael Greer and Jonathan, a judgment
  • These victims and has been 15 years trying to enforce the judgment against frozen assets of terrorists
  • This bill is typically limited to post judgment proceedings for terrorism victims.
  • A clarification of for Florida law says this section applies the judgment against a terrorist party.
Keywords: 999, senate, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/26/2026 - House Health & Human Services

Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • why we couldn't—I mean, I understand, I'm just not seeing the controversy here, so I'll definitely defer
  • So I'll definitely defer to the chair's wishes, but I feel like Governor Hobbs said in her plan that
  • So I'll defer to you, but I'll... ...have adopted.
  • So I'll defer to you, but I'm just reserving the right to object to raise that issue.
  • I would have expected better judgment from your institute.
Summary: The committee began with a presentation from the Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter and Dr. Anna Burke of Barrow Neurological Institute on the scope of Alzheimer’s disease, the shortage of specialists, low rates of timely diagnosis, and the need for caregiver support and early intervention. Speakers emphasized that Arizona is a leader in Alzheimer’s research and that lifestyle changes, new therapies, and research funding offer hope, but only if patients are diagnosed earlier and providers are better trained. The committee then heard House Bill 2202, which would appropriate $300,000 over three years for a dementia care telemonitoring/telementoring grant program through the Department of Health Services to help providers statewide learn best practices in dementia care. Supporters, including the Alzheimer’s Association, Dr. Danny Cabral, and a patient advocate, said the bill would address major gaps in provider training and improve early diagnosis and treatment. There was no opposition, and the committee voted 11-0 to give HB 2202 a do pass recommendation. The committee next took up House Bill 2251, the “Jordan and MacTerry Act,” which would expand licensed midwives’ authority to administer certain medications, require liability insurance disclosure and reporting, and create an Arizona Midwifery Advisory Committee. Supporters said the bill would improve safety, oversight, and access to emergency medications in home births, while opponents from ACOG and the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association raised concerns about the adequacy of oversight, the medication list, and whether eight hours of pharmacology training is sufficient. After testimony from midwives, physicians, and stakeholders, the bill was held for further stakeholder work and anticipated floor amendments. House Bill 2252, which would allow certified nurse midwives, certified professional midwives, or licensed midwives to accompany a patient in a ground ambulance during transport if approved by medical direction, also drew support and opposition. Supporters argued it would preserve continuity of care in emergencies, while firefighters and EMS representatives objected to ambiguity and scene control concerns. That bill was likewise held for further stakeholder meetings. The committee then recessed and reconvened for later presentations on federal budget and health-related topics.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Legislative Budget Office Oversight Commission 1/22/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • >> I would like to defer to Tina because I think that's where most of the questions go, into the direct
  • gt; I<00:56:54.000> would<00:56:54.160> like<00:56:54.319> to<00:56:54.480> defer
  • :54.880> Tina<00:56:55.280> because<00:56:55.520> or >> I would like to defer
  • to Tina because or >> I would like to defer to Tina because or Miss<00:56:56.000> Burkhalter
  • Dynamic fiscal notes are not about replacing legislative judgment.
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The Legislative Budget Office Oversight Commission met on January 22, 2026, with a quorum present and approved the minutes from the December 17, 2025 meeting. The main presentation was by Erikica McKeler of the National Conference of State Legislatures on dynamic fiscal notes, dynamic scoring, and how they differ from static fiscal notes. She explained that dynamic analysis tries to capture broader economic and behavioral effects of policy changes, but that most states have experimented with it only briefly, often for tax bills, and many have later scaled back or abandoned the practice because it is staff-intensive, expensive, and difficult to validate. McKeler highlighted examples from Texas, Utah, and Arkansas. Texas requires dynamic fiscal impact statements for certain large tax or fee measures and for the biennial appropriations bill; Utah has done such analyses on request during the interim but only when staff time allows; and Arkansas recently began producing dynamic fiscal notes with thresholds and request limits. She noted that these states generally use REMI software, though Utah switched to IMPLAN for cost reasons. She also outlined common challenges, including the need for strong staff expertise, the sensitivity of results to assumptions, the expense of software licenses, and the difficulty of measuring accuracy over time. Members then discussed whether dynamic scoring could be useful for health and human services programs where a policy may shift costs between settings rather than create a simple new expense. Senator Marty raised a Medicaid example involving home-based blue light therapy for newborns, arguing that dynamic analysis might better capture potential savings from avoiding longer hospital stays. Legislative Budget Office and Minnesota Management and Budget staff responded that such effects may be better understood as direct program substitutions rather than true dynamic effects, and emphasized the need for reliable data and caution because savings estimates could reduce appropriations if they do not materialize. The discussion also touched on whether dynamic models would capture local government impacts, but no formal action was taken beyond the approval of minutes and receipt of the presentation.
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Session - 2026-05-26 - 6:35PM

Vermont House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Best judgment of the same sort of experts that this bill will rely on in assessing those factors.
  • Best judgment of the danger to others.
  • <01:42:48.720> is exercise self or control or judgment is exercise self or control or judgment
  • And human elements and judgments always involve risk of error.
  • <01:45:24.200> always And human elements and judgments always And human elements and judgments
Keywords: 926, house, all
Summary: The House first returned to Senate Bill 71, a consumer data privacy and online surveillance bill. Members debated a proposed amendment that would have removed language allowing companies to rely on consumer consent to sell certain sensitive data. Supporters argued consent pop-ups and terms-of-service notices are not meaningful consent and that sensitive data should be categorically protected, citing Maryland and other states. Opponents, including the committee presenter, said the bill was a carefully negotiated compromise needed to establish Vermont’s first data privacy framework and warned that adopting the amendment could jeopardize passage in the Senate or with the governor. The committee reported the amendment unfavorable on a 9-0 straw poll, the House rejected the amendment, and then approved the committee’s recommended proposal of amendment by roll call vote, 129-3. During questioning on S. 71, members discussed the bill’s applicability thresholds, with the presenter explaining that the 35,000-consumer threshold was modeled on Connecticut, while lower 3,000 thresholds for sensitive data and data sales were based on business testimony and intended to capture smaller entities such as accountants, lawyers, nonprofits, and trade associations that share or sell lists. Members also asked about the bill’s many exemptions, which were described as covering entities already regulated by state or federal law, including health care entities under HIPAA and banking and insurance sectors. The presenter and supporters emphasized that the bill still requires clear privacy notices, limits data collection to what is reasonable and disclosed, and gives consumers rights to opt out, correct, and delete data. After the roll call vote, the House ordered third reading, suspended rules to place S. 71 in all remaining stages, passed it in concurrence with proposal of amendment, and suspended rules to message the action to the Senate forthwith. The House then moved to Senate Bill 193, relating to establishing a forensic facility for certain criminal justice-involved persons. The committee presenter from South Burlington previewed that the bill would create a permanent forensic facility, with a separate amendment expected to address interim arrangements while the facility is being developed. The transcript ends as the House begins second reading of S. 193 and the committee reports are introduced, with further debate not shown.
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

Senate - Judiciary Feb 3rd, 2025

Senate Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I'll look at the handouts and I'll make a judgment on whether it's something I want, or I think the
  • I'm trying to make a judgment, but if you need a presentation or your presentation, please just let me
  • It's really not in the red, but it's getting there because of the amount of settlements and judgments
  • We would be asking potentially 112 to second-guess and pass their judgment on a case where we probably
  • So I let that contract go, and since then I've had a judgment against the state, namely UNM Hospital,
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Session - 2026-05-29 - 1:32PM

Vermont House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill, though, however, reflects the legislature's judgment, our judgment.
  • It is our judgment which we have already judged, I guess, that additional guardrails are warranted in
Keywords: 926, house, all
KY

Kentucky 2026 Regular Session

House Standing Committee on Judiciary. (2-25-26)

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • And if there are no questions, I will defer now to my witnesses, the experts, for more detailed testimony
  • And if there are no questions, I will defer now to my witnesses, the experts, for more detailed testimony
  • worse because it allows a non-elected, non-lawyer, non-jury body to saddle these defendants with judgments
Keywords: 958, all
Summary: The House Judiciary Committee met for its sixth regular-session meeting and first took up House Bill 5, as substituted by committee amendment, which would authorize KCTCS to partner with the Department of Corrections to create a vocational training campus at North Point Training Center. The sponsor and witnesses described the bill as a prison education and re-entry initiative aimed at reducing recidivism, saving taxpayer money, and meeting workforce needs, citing Michigan’s vocational village model as evidence that prison-based training can lower reoffending. Testimony emphasized that the program would include high-demand vocational fields, credentials, eligibility and security safeguards, data collection, annual reporting, and re-entry documentation such as certificates of employability and employment protections. Several members voiced support, including comments that the bill builds on existing second-chance and employability efforts. One member asked whether post-release employment outcomes could also be tracked, and the sponsor said that would be encouraged and discussed as a possible friendly amendment. After discussion, the committee voted 19-1 to adopt the committee substitute and pass House Bill 5. The committee then began consideration of House Bill 468, which would update the Kentucky Civil Rights Act to conform the state definition of disability to the 2008 federal ADA amendments and clarify the meaning of “qualified individual with a disability.” The bill sponsor said it would remove the Kentucky Human Rights Commission’s adjudicative authority over employment and public accommodations cases, while leaving investigative powers intact and preserving housing-related adjudication, with the goal of placing those disputes in court and preserving jury-trial rights. In response to questions, the sponsor said a local mandate analysis found the court impact would be minimal to moderate, and cited commission data showing relatively few hearings. The transcript cuts off during continued discussion of HB 468.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/04/2026 - House Judiciary

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Chairman, Representative Way, I am not an expert on that, and so I probably do not want to defer.
  • Chairman, Representative Way, I am not an expert on that, and so I probably do not want to defer.
  • Article 2, Section 24, where it says, “And in no instance shall any accused person before final judgment
Summary: The committee first heard HB 2415, which would tighten Arizona’s regulation of kratom by treating synthetic or highly concentrated 7-OH products as narcotic drugs, raising the legal sale age to 21, and imposing criminal penalties for prohibited sales or preparation. Supporters, including the sponsor, a recovering user, the American Kratom Association, and the Attorney General’s Office, argued the bill targets dangerous synthetic products while preserving natural kratom leaf products. Opponents, including the Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice, warned the amendment could sweep in users and create harsh felony penalties for possession. The committee adopted the Wynn amendment and then gave HB 2415 as amended a 6-3 do-pass recommendation. The committee then considered HB 2870, which would bar multiple Level 2 or Level 3 registered sex offenders from living together in the same residence unless they are related by blood, marriage, or adoption. The sponsor and neighborhood witnesses described a local home with six or seven offenders and said the arrangement frightened nearby families and children. Opponents argued the bill would destabilize housing for people on probation, increase homelessness, and interfere with supervision and rehabilitation; some also noted existing probation oversight and low sexual recidivism rates. After debate over whether the bill should instead target only certain housing settings, the committee voted 5-4 to give HB 2870 a do-pass recommendation. Next, HB 2413 was heard, requiring GPS or electronic monitoring for registered sex offenders who do not have a fixed address until one is established. Supporters said the bill would close a gap for homeless or transient registrants who otherwise report only every 90 days, while opponents raised due process, cost, and implementation concerns, noting that some offenders are already monitored through probation and that DPS does not itself supervise offenders. The committee passed HB 2413 on a 5-4 vote. The committee also heard HB 2720, which increases the penalty for purchasing prostitution to a class 6 felony and directs a $200 assessment to the anti-human trafficking fund. Supporters said it targets buyers and helps deter trafficking demand; opponents argued the bill could still ensnare trafficking victims and sex workers. The committee adopted a Bliss amendment clarifying the affirmative defense and use of funds, then approved HB 2720 as amended by an 8-0 vote with one member present. Finally, HB 2418, appropriating $600,000 from the General Fund to the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission for five major incident division task forces, was supported by county sheriffs’ representatives and passed unanimously by the committee.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • For the other ones, we will now defer to the letter investigation.
  • Whether or not those specific cases involve examples that you just described, Senator Cortese, I have to defer
  • We would just say, waive the damn minimum requirements, get those positions filled, use your best judgment
Summary: The hearing focused on a state audit of Cal/OSHA titled “The Division of Occupational Safety and Health: Process Deficiencies and Staffing Shortages Limit Its Ability to Protect Workers.” Committee leaders and the audit team described serious workplace tragedies, argued that California’s worker protections are not being adequately enforced, and said the audit was prompted by concerns that Cal/OSHA was too often relying on letters instead of inspections, delaying investigations, and closing cases without enough documentation. Members repeatedly emphasized that the issue was not just staffing, but also outdated policies, weak oversight, and inconsistent enforcement. State Auditor Grant Parks said the audit found a 32% vacancy rate in 2023-24, heavy reliance on hard-copy files, outdated or unclear policies, and inconsistent decision-making in complaints, accidents, citations, and fine reductions. He said Cal/OSHA conducted on-site inspections in only about 20% of complaints, used letter investigations more than 80% of the time, often lacked evidence that hazards were corrected, and sometimes failed to inspect serious injury cases on time. The audit also found weak documentation for fine calculations and settlement reductions, with some penalties reduced substantially without clear explanations. Parks said the agency had accepted the findings and would provide progress updates later in the year. Committee members pressed the auditor on vacancy rates, the use of letter investigations, the low rate of criminal referrals, and whether fines were being reduced too often. Cal/OSHA and DIR officials responded that the vacancy rate had fallen to 12% partly because 66 vacant positions were eliminated in a statewide budget reduction and partly because of hiring; they said 126 people had been hired in the first half of the year. They also said they had hired a policy writer, were updating several policies, were planning periodic internal audits, and were developing a new data management system expected to go live in late 2026 or early 2027. On fines, officials said Title 8 sets base penalties and allows adjustments based on factors like employer size, history, and good faith, with appeals and informal conferences also affecting final amounts. No votes or formal actions were taken during the hearing.
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

House Criminal Justice and Public Safety (01/15/2026)

Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • It affected people's judgment.
  • So I would like to, um, defer or ask if there's any questions.
  • So I would like to, um, defer or ask if there's any questions. two groups and I will let them explain
  • So I would like to to to um<04:11:28.319> defer um defer um defer or or or ask<04:11:33.279>
  • <04:44:39.040> honorable >> Yeah, I would defer honorable >> Yeah, I would defer
Keywords: 1189, house, all
NH

New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session

Senate Commerce (01/27/2026)

Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • I am certainly not a crypto expert, and so I would defer to some of my other colleagues who might be
  • I am certainly not a crypto expert, and so I would defer to some of my other colleagues who might be
  • I am certainly not a crypto expert, and so I would defer to some of my other colleagues who might be
  • And there's no way for a code official to make that judgment easily by looking at an accredited stamp
  • easily by looking at make that judgment easily by looking at an<02:54:26.240> accredited<02:54
Keywords: 1191, senate, all