Video & Transcript : 'freedom of speech' :
Page 69 of 500
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Forty Eight - Wednesday, April 8 - Afternoon Session
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- It is a commitment to democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.
- Democracy and freedom are the very core of Taiwan identity.
- If one of the members of the board? Yes.
- Speaker, I have a title change that changes the title of this piece of legislation to the duties of a
- Association of Boards of Pharmacy.
Summary:
The House first established a quorum, then heard a presentation from Debbie Huang of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver. Huang thanked Missouri lawmakers for their annual Taiwan resolutions and described Taiwan as a democratic and economic partner of the United States, emphasizing cooperation with Missouri in agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, semiconductors, and AI, while also warning about pressure from China and the need for stronger Taiwan-U.S. ties.
The chamber then took up House Bill 311, which would move oversight of bail bondsmen under the existing board for private investigators and fire investigators, add bail bondsmen to that board, and increase training and oversight. Members said the bill was industry-requested, had unanimous committee support, and carried no fiscal note. The House adopted the committee substitute and perfected and printed the bill.
Lawmakers also debated and adopted a committee substitute for House Bill 3009, a pharmacy bill aimed at clarifying rules for pharmacies serving low-income and underserved patients, emergency medication dispensing, and out-of-state pharmacy accreditation. Amendments were adopted to update the title and align Missouri law with national pharmacy board accreditation standards. The bill was described as a response to access problems during the 2025 St. Louis tornado and was said to have no state cost.
A large block of floor action followed on a combined package of bills and amendments covering public safety, criminal law, health, and licensing. Measures discussed and adopted included changes to the sex offender registry and related corrections, an offense for impeding first responders, Mason’s Law to flag drivers with disabilities in law enforcement databases, a hands-free cell phone law update, Highway Patrol equipment purchasing authority, psilocybin language for first responders and veterans, AI-generated explicit material and child pornography provisions, gift card fraud penalties, stronger fentanyl trafficking penalties, Melanie’s Law on ignition interlock/DUI penalties, a domestic violence registry, boiler inspection and Missouri fire/life safety standards, Kansas City police retirement age corrections, and a commercial driver English proficiency bill with stronger penalties for drivers and carriers. One amendment on the sex offender registry was withdrawn after debate, and the House ultimately adopted the remaining amendments and referred the combined House Bills 368 and 3049 substitute to the Committee on Legislative Review.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- I'm here on behalf of Reproductive Freedom for All and our 90,000 members statewide.
- I'm here on behalf of Reproductive Freedom for All Arizona and our over 90,000 members statewide.
- Chairman members of the committee my name is Jody Liggett I'm here on behalf of Reproductive Freedom
- It will only provide demonstrably unconstitutional chilling of speech. Thank you. All right.
- of all of the benefits?
Committee:
House House Education Committee of Reference
Summary:
The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2076, which would create a program and fund within ADE, in consultation with AZPOST, to reimburse eligible schools and employees for approved training, certification, and school safety equipment, and would allow schools to adopt policies permitting certain employees to carry concealed firearms on campus if they meet training, notification, and confidentiality requirements. The sponsor, Rep. Bliss, framed the bill as an optional, fiscally responsible medical-response measure focused on bleeding control and emergency preparedness, not a mandate to arm schools. Supporters said the bill adds guardrails, expands access to training, and could help staff respond in emergencies. Opponents, including Giffords, Arizona for Gun Safety, and the Arizona Education Association, argued it would normalize firearms in classrooms, create confidentiality and law-enforcement concerns, expose students and staff to new risks, and divert attention from prevention, mental health, and other school safety investments. After debate, the committee voted 6-5-1 to give HB 2076 a do-pass recommendation.
The committee then took up House Bill 2830, which directs the State Board of Education to adopt science standards requiring instruction on fetal and prenatal development and specifies that the content is not sex education. Supporters, including the sponsor, a school board president, and a biology teacher, said the bill is about age-appropriate, medically accurate science, parental rights, and clear statewide guidance. Opponents, including the AEA and Reproductive Freedom for All, said it fragments science instruction, politicizes the curriculum, and omits the broader reproductive and public health context students need. Members debated whether fetal development can be taught without discussing reproduction, and whether the bill is an education measure or an anti-abortion effort. The committee approved HB 2830 on an 8-4 vote. The transcript also included discussion of House Bill 2093, which would repeal required mental health instruction and social-emotional learning in schools; supporters argued it restores parental control and refocuses schools on academics, while opponents said school-based mental health education saves lives and helps students who may not have support at home.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects an individual's freedom of speech.
- Under the First Amendment, any restrictions on speech that are based on the content of the speech are
- This bill is focused on commercial speech, which is viewed differently under the spirit of the law.
- speaker and its audiences, commercial speech is less protected than other forms of speech.
- Commercial speech is less protected than other forms of speech.
Committee:
Senate Judiciary
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects an individual's freedom of speech.
- Under the First Amendment, any restrictions on speech that are based on the content of the speech are
- This bill is focused on commercial speech, which is viewed differently under the spirit of the law.
- speaker and its audiences, commercial speech is less protected than other forms of speech.
- Commercial speech is less protected than other forms of speech.
Committee:
Senate Judiciary
Summary:
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard several bills focused on health care planning, mental health court participation, homeowners association governance, groundwater enforcement, pet-policy disclosure in rentals, and post-disaster property speculation. SB 1088 would update California’s POLST and DNR laws by renaming POLST to Portable Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment, allowing electronic signatures, clarifying who may sign on a patient’s behalf, and making clear that these forms are voluntary; it drew support from the Coalition for Compassionate Care and no opposition. SB 1242 would let original family petitioners participate in CARE Court for care coordination and information-sharing, while preserving judicial discretion to exclude them if harmful; supporters said it would improve treatment coordination, while Disability Rights California opposed it as coercive and a removal of patient consent. The committee advanced SB 1242 on a 7-0 vote, with the bill placed on call.
The committee also considered SB 1007, which would require more HOA budget transparency, disclosure of evidence for violations, and a lower cap on regular assessment increases without a homeowner vote. Supporters argued it would improve accountability and protect homeowners from steep fee hikes, while HOA industry groups warned it could undermine funding for insurance, maintenance, and other operating costs. Members raised concerns about the cap and the need for flexibility for large expenses; the bill passed 6-1 and was placed on call. SB 1364, as amended, would prevent a person convicted of sexual assault from obtaining custody or visitation of a child conceived from that assault, while preserving the possibility of voluntary co-parenting and aiming to qualify California for federal grant funding; it passed 8-0 and was placed on call.
Later, SB 997 would give the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency lien authority to enforce fees and its groundwater sustainability plan, addressing an enforcement gap for a GSA created by special legislation rather than a joint powers agreement. It drew support from agricultural and county groups and passed 9-0, placed on call. SB 1296 would require landlords to disclose pet policies up front on applications, websites, and ads, and allow refund of an application fee if disclosure was not provided before payment; supporters said it would reduce wasted application costs and pet relinquishment, while rental housing groups said the ad disclosure requirements were impractical. The bill passed 8-0 and was placed on call. The final bill, SB 1090, was introduced to prohibit large property owners from making unsolicited purchase offers for five years in wildfire-disaster areas, responding to investor activity after the Eaton and Palisades fires; the author and a SAGE witness described it as a protection against disaster capitalism and predatory low offers to displaced residents.
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- impairment of the function of any bodily organ or limb.
- So I do want to kind of point out the hypocrisy of that here today, that we're hearing this type of a
- It could be chess, Junior ROTC, robotics, speech and debate, spirit line, all kinds of things.
- a specified passage of the Declaration of Independence.
- a specified passage of the Declaration of Independence.
Committees:
House Education , House House Education Committee of Reference
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Seventy One - Friday, May 15 - Afternoon Session
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- But they could be used, if it were that kind of speech. It's...
- Are you saying no, they wouldn't stop that, but they could be used if it were that kind of speech.
- So what I say is, I'm just going to sue you for defamation or some type of speech-based claim.
- So what I say is, I'm just going to sue you for defamation or some type of speech-based claim. for defamation
- or some type of speech-based claim.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- > come</c><00:11:39.800><c> time</c> payout of some or all of the come time payout of some or all of
- </c> in some of the C time to cover some of in some of the C time to cover some of the<00:12:04.440><
- our everyday citizens who are expressing their First Amendment freedom of speech.
- our everyday citizens who are expressing their First Amendment freedom of speech.
- our everyday citizens who are expressing their First Amendment freedom of speech.
Committee:
House Labor
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Higher Education Institutions Committee Apr 9th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- pathology, students getting a master's degree, and we turn out an awful lot of speech pathologists from
- education or speech-language pathology—we have a lot of students that have the opportunity to work over
- So there was enough freedom in her schedule because of summer school classes.
- So there was enough freedom in her schedule because of summer school classes, taking heavy loads as a
- So there was enough freedom in her schedule because of summer school classes, taking heavy loads as a
Summary:
The committee met on the Minot State campus for a presentation from President Shirley and several university leaders on enrollment, academics, workforce initiatives, and partnerships. Shirley reviewed the university’s financial audits, noting mostly clean results with only minor technical findings in recent years, and highlighted Minot State’s major programs, specialized accreditations, and ties to Minot Air Force Base and NCAA Division II athletics. Members asked about education workforce shortages, athletic tuition waivers, dual credit incentives, and the university’s in-state tuition policy for all students. Shirley also discussed the university’s recruitment efforts, including the Hometown Pride and Academic Excellence scholarships, campus visit growth, and the Emerging Scholars dual-credit reimbursement program.
A major focus was workforce development and new academic offerings supported by legislative Workforce Education Innovation Funds. Shirley described the new Innovation Engineering program, which was developed with industry input to train broadly skilled engineers for western North Dakota, and said it had already drawn more applicants than expected. Dr. Crystal St. Peter presented a new master’s program in counseling that integrates mental health and addiction counseling to address statewide provider shortages, with a hybrid format to reach rural students. Members asked about licensure requirements, internship hours, and job placement for graduates. Shirley also outlined a new nursing simulation center and health sciences space in downtown Minot, made possible by state support and the purchase of the former Trinity Health Center West building.
The committee also heard about Minot State’s efforts to build pipelines into education and special education, including the Aspire program for rural high school students and an online paraprofessional-to-special-education degree pathway. Shirley said these programs, along with new articulation agreements and a large Bush Foundation grant, are intended to address teacher shortages and keep students in North Dakota. No formal committee votes or actions were taken during the presentation; the session consisted of informational updates and member questions.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- , Florida Association of Counties, Florida League of Cities, and FACE, the Florida Association of Code
- of it, which I'm not aware of.
- Once again, the supposed state of freedom is restricting our city governments, our local governments,
- I'm sitting here reading some of my notes of some of the people I've spoken with.
- I'm looking at sort of a long-range view of the state of Florida.
Committee:
Senate Community Affairs
Summary:
The committee first heard SB 1134, which would extend the use of qualified private providers in the building permit process to residential solar energy systems and certain single-trade inspections, and would allow computer-based plan review tools. The sponsor said the bill is intended to reduce long solar permitting delays and lower costs. A late amendment clarifying the word “application” was adopted, and after some discussion about local permitting problems and the need to work with municipalities, CS/SB 1134 was reported favorably, with Senator Pizzo voting no.
The committee then took up SB 784, dealing with issuance of addresses and parcel identification numbers for plats. The bill sets a 14-day timeframe, and an amendment was adopted that would allow use of a private provider if the deadline is missed and would limit fee collection if verification is not completed. Members discussed whether the bill should include more flexibility and whether private providers are appropriate for this function, but the committee ultimately reported CS/SB 784 favorably. SB 1738, allowing counties that previously opted out of transportation concurrency to opt back in while maintaining current levels of service, was also reported favorably without significant opposition.
Next, SB 1080 on local government land regulation was presented as a measure to speed up development permit and order approvals, limit repeated information requests, prevent hearing delays, and impose penalties for noncompliance. Local government testimony argued it would rush planning and weaken public input, while supporters called it common-sense streamlining. After debate, the bill was reported favorably, with several no votes. SB 1260, which clarifies county constitutional officer budget procedures and creates an appeal process for clerks and supervisors of elections similar to that used by sheriffs, was also reported favorably after members raised concerns about county budget timelines.
Finally, the committee considered SB 420, as amended by a strike-all, which would prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting or funding DEI-related ordinances, programs, or policies, while carving out compliance with state and federal law and defining DEI-related terms. The amendment removed retroactivity and delayed the effective date, but members from both parties raised concerns about vague definitions, impacts on women- and minority-owned business programs, local commemorations, and the loss of attorney’s fees for prevailing counties. Public testimony was sharply divided, with many speakers opposing the bill as an attack on local control and inclusion, and a few supporting it as a merit-based standard. The amendment was adopted, but the bill drew extensive opposition in debate and was not yet reported in the portion of the transcript provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Some of you may attempt to refute... This is a violation of religious freedom. It undeniably is.
- Section 6 freedom of worship, no man shall be compelled to attend, erect, or support any place of worship
- to SB10 on behalf of myself and the Texas Freedom Network and organizations of parents, young people
- We oppose this bill because it undermines the freedom of families to be able to direct the religious
- And all of us are Texans. We each have the right to true religious freedom. The right to freedom.
Bills:
HB4 , HB54 , SB 10 , SB 24 , HB4 , HB54 , HB775 , HB850 , HB 1122 , HB 1249 , HB1405 , HB2336 , HB2757 , HB3372 , HB3622 , HB4442 , HB4687 , HB4893 , HB5089 , HB5515 , HB5606 , SB10 , SB24 , HB1573 , HB3369
Committee:
House Public Education
Keywords:
district composition, congressional election, Texas, legislature, voting districts, citizenship, U.S. citizen, non-citizen, public office, advisory board, task force, state government, local government, political subdivision, commission board, appointment eligibility, officeholder qualifications, public service, naturalization, Texas Government Code
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Business meeting to consider the nominations of Elise Stefanik, of New York, to be the Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador, and the Representative of the United States of Americ Jan 30th, 2025 at 09:25 am
Foreign Relations Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- And you can go down a list of things: the distortion of the marketplace of ideas, the loss of technology
- And the author of a forthcoming book on the rise of China and the future of great power competition.
- of society.
- I remember giving a speech that talked about 90% of Chinese software being stolen or acquired, mostly
- Most of the time, a lot of what's happening in academia, because of the open nature of our system, is
Committee:
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session Jun 22nd, 2026
California House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- May they know what each of us should know, that we are worthy of love, that we are worthy of respect,
- And as my final Pride Month speech as the 2025-26 chair of our California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, I
- Our city has been a place of refuge, community, and activism for people seeking the freedom to live openly
- It is also, of course, a reminder of all of the work that we still have to do.
- We have to take action, not just speak up, to ensure that everyone has the freedoms that all of us deserve
Summary:
The Assembly met in session, established a quorum, and opened with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Members then handled a series of procedural motions, including re-referrals of several Senate bills, notices for committee hearings, and a successful motion to suspend rules so ACA 20 could be taken up later in the week. The chamber also recognized former Assembly Member Christina Garcia and later moved into a Pride Month observance.
The main ceremonial item was House Resolution 115 recognizing June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Assembly Member Ward opened on the resolution, and multiple members from different caucuses spoke in support, highlighting Pride history, LGBTQ+ rights, and the contributions of LGBTQ Californians. Assembly Member DeMaio offered supportive remarks while noting policy differences, and the resolution was adopted by voice vote after 53 co-authors were added. The Assembly then held a Pride honoree ceremony recognizing 15 individuals and groups for contributions to the LGBTQ community.
On the floor file, members also adopted several resolutions by voice vote after adding co-authors: ACR 187 on Men’s Mental Health Month, ACR 157 marking the 50th anniversary of the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act, ACR 222 declaring Alzheimer’s Disease and Brain Awareness Month, and ACR 224 recognizing Social Media Harms Victim Remembrance Day. Each drew personal testimony from members about the underlying issues, including suicide prevention, caregiving and dementia, mining reclamation, and harms to youth from social media. The Assembly also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 46 on mental health diversion by a 51-1 vote, and later adopted the consent calendar 66-0. The House adjourned until June 25, 2026, at 9 a.m.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine biomedical research, focusing on keeping America's edge in innovation. Apr 30th, 2025 at 09:30 am
Senate Appropriations
Transcript Highlights:
- of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. of Defense, the Department of Energy, and many other federal
- Of eliminating a disease? Of funding a cure? Of developing a new vaccine?
- He is nothing short of brilliant. He is a member of the National Academy of Science.
- My father died of cancer. father-in-law died of cancer. My stepfather died of cancer.
- What's happening is the whole abandonment of billions of dollars of research.
Committee:
Senate Senate Appropriations
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives Apr 16th, 2026
Louisiana House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- of Louisiana.
- of costs, disbursement of wages.
- of the district, membership, powers, duties of the board, and annual submission of lists of nominees
- Members of the House, courtesy of Ochsner, Ms.
- of Insurance, and Department of Agriculture.
Bills:
HR159 , HR160 , HR161 , HR162 , HR163 , HR164 , HCR60 , HCR61 , HCR62 , HCR63 , HCR64 , HR153 , HR154 , HR155 , HR156 , HR157 , HR158 , HCR57 , HCR58 , HCR59 , SB124 , SB399 , SB441 , SB447 , SB460 , HCR4 , HCR47 , HB59 , HB74 , HB159 , HB175 , HB330 , HB364 , HB414 , HB458 , HB525 , HB568 , HB628 , HB786 , HB909 , HB1008 , HB1033 , HB1034 , HB1041 , HB1052 , HB1062 , HB1070 , HB1079 , HB1112 , HB1118 , HB1139 , HB1151 , HB1154 , HB1176 , HB1182 , HB1196 , HB1214 , HB1231 , HB1241 , SB244 , HB1 , HB2 , HB3 , HB312 , HB313 , HB383 , HB314 , HCR3 , HB983 , HB1126 , HR1 , HR17 , HCR5 , HB27 , HB71 , HB214 , HB225 , HB241 , HB244 , HB306 , HB345 , HB366 , HB446 , HB511 , HB514 , HB655 , HB730 , HB743 , HB1027 , HB1037 , HB1043 , HB1082 , HB1091 , HB1096 , HB1103 , HB1167 , HB1174 , HB1175 , HB1230 , HB1237 , HB1238 , HB55 , HB385 , HB394 , HB396 , HB406 , HB608 , HB622 , HB676 , HB772 , HB897 , HB1030 , HB1035 , HB1038 , HB1045 , HB1049 , HB1056 , HB1058 , HB1059 , HB1092 , HB1100 , HB1117 , HB1160 , HB1161 , HB1162 , HB1177 , HB1180 , HB1189 , HB1216 , HB1239 , HB1240 , SB162 , SB349 , SB350 , SB382 , SB383 , SB127 , HB51 , HB58 , HB140 , HB750 , HB911 , HB982 , HB1010 , HB151 , HB180 , HB192 , HB193 , HB310 , HB635 , HB690 , HB961 , HB1003 , HB1146 , HB864 , HB977 , HB181 , HB31 , HB664 , HB615 , HB901 , HR20 , HR74 , HB9 , HB284 , HB393 , HB459 , HB577 , HB582 , HB605 , HB614 , HB682 , HB733 , HB773 , HB996 , HB1113 , HB1234 , HB1236
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and received Senate messages, including several Senate bills and resolutions that were referred or laid over. The chamber also adopted a series of House resolutions honoring local organizations, commemorations, and community events, and referred one resolution on climate action to Natural Resources. Several Senate bills were read and referred to the appropriate committees, including measures on peer review confidentiality, higher education research security, pre-K program standards, police civil service, and a memorial highway designation.
The main floor business was the budget. The House considered House Bill 1, the general appropriations bill, in Committee of the Whole and reviewed major funding levels and committee changes across state government. The bill included significant funding for early childhood education, higher education, TOPS, health care, corrections, public safety, transportation, and other agencies, along with adjustments tied to LASERS debt payoff, Medicaid, MFP, and various one-time or recurring items. Members heard brief questions on higher education funding and DOTD road needs, but no amendments were offered on the floor during the schedule-by-schedule review. HB 1 was reported from Committee of the Whole with amendments and then finally passed by a vote of 104 yeas.
The House then took up House Bills 2 and 3, the capital outlay bill and the omnibus bond authorization act, both of which were explained as the financing measures for the capital program. HB 2 emphasized limited member project funding, reallocation of dormant projects, and bundling of projects to move them forward more efficiently; HB 3 authorized the bond sales needed to fund HB 2. Both bills passed unanimously or near-unanimously. The chamber also passed supplemental and fiscal bills including HB 312, HB 313, HB 383, HB 314, HCR 3, HB 983, and HB 1126, covering supplemental appropriations, treasury fund transfers, ancillary funds, hospital assessments, judiciary funding, and legislative expenses. The meeting ended with personal privileges, staff recognition, announcements, and adjournment to Monday at 1:00 p.m.
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
Community Affairs Mar 17th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE
- I AM LEERY OF THE NUMBER OF DAYS, BUT I THINK IT MOST OF THE WORK IS DONE ON THE FRONT END AND IT IS
- OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS AN IMPORTANT ROLL OF REGULATION CONTROL A LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE DONE
- ONCE AGAIN THESE OPPOSING STATE OF FREEDOM IS RESTRICTING OUR CITY GOVERNMENTS AND LOCAL FROM BEING ABLE
- YOU REPRESENT PART OF ONE OF THE ENTIRETY OF ANOTHER ONE.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- provide records of all Before the sale of an animal, a pet dealer must provide records of all medical
- of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles of September 19, 2011.
- certain components of Sharia law that are inconsistent with the laws of the United States and of the
- The vagueness of the language of this bill allows the direct suppression of opposing political views,
- By using ambiguous standards, this proposal removes the free exercise of speech and association guaranteed
Bills:
S0002 , S0006 , S0018 , S0026 , S0028 , S0050 , S0178 , S0326 , S0538 , S0786 , S1004 , S1096 , S1178 , S1366 , S1632 , S1634
Committee:
Senate Judiciary
Summary:
The committee heard a series of bills, most of them claims or civil-law measures, and reported each favorably. Among the bills approved were SB 326 on curators of estates, SB 1096 clarifying filing deadlines under the Florida Civil Rights Act, SB 28 and SB 26 on claims against the City of Lakeland and the estate of Mark Legata, SB 6 involving a DCF-related claim for Layla Estrada/Sapphire Williams, SB 786 creating a nonjudicial process for closing trusts, SB 18 and SB 2 on claims involving the estate of McKenzie Navarre and Daniel Mosley, and SB 50 expanding veterans’ courts statewide. The committee also approved SB 538 on extracurricular activities, SB 1004 on pet sales and financing disclosures, and SB 1366, the sovereign immunity bill, which was presented as a starting point for negotiations with the House over higher claims caps and related provisions. Most of these bills were explained by sponsors as clarifying existing law, modernizing procedures, or resolving uncontested claims, and several had support from affected organizations or individuals; some also drew opposition or concerns from speakers, especially on trust notice issues, sovereign immunity, and the scope of the extracurricular and pet-sale bills.
Several bills were amended before passage. SB 326 was narrowed by removing a section and changing reporting language for curators. SB 786 received a technical clarification amendment, while SB 18 removed an unneeded Medicaid-related section. SB 50 on veterans’ courts drew broad support from veterans’ groups and criminal-justice organizations. SB 538 on extracurricular activities was amended multiple times to address home education eligibility, activity fees for homeschool participants, technical cross-references, and compensation for extracurricular sponsors. SB 1004 was supported by animal-welfare advocates and consumer-protection interests. SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools was amended to limit the bill to head coaches, require personal funds, and allow similar bylaws by other athletic associations; it passed after discussion of a Miami Northwestern coaching controversy.
The committee also took up two major policy bills with substantial testimony and questions. SB 1178 on foreign influence would create a state framework for foreign-agent registration, restrict gifts and contracts tied to foreign countries of concern and designated foreign terrorist organizations, limit certain sister-city and university linkage activities, and increase penalties for crimes committed to benefit foreign governments or terrorist groups; supporters framed it as a national-security and transparency measure, while the sponsor withdrew one amendment before passage. SB 1632 on ideologies inconsistent with American principles generated the most extended questioning, especially about its domestic-terrorism designation process, references to Sharia law, notice and due-process protections, and potential effects on students and speech; supporters argued it targets conduct, not belief, while opponents warned it could chill protected activity and unfairly target Muslim communities. The committee heard many public speakers on both sides, but no floor debate followed before the bill was moved forward.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Judiciary Committee Jul 8th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- In such an environment, platforms will not risk liability and opt into the suppression of legal speech
- discourse to the detriment of legitimate and lawful speech.
- In such an environment, platforms will not risk liability and opt into the suppression of legal speech
- discourse to the detriment of legitimate and lawful speech.
- of social media, and when it stirs up hate speech, when it promotes people to do horrible things to
Summary:
The committee heard several bills, with most drawing support after amendments or ongoing stakeholder negotiations. SB 29, by Senator Laird, would extend a sunset on the law allowing pain-and-suffering claims to survive a plaintiff’s death; supporters, including a family member describing a medical negligence case, labor groups, consumer advocates, and disability and elder organizations, argued it prevents defendants from running out the clock, while hospitals, medical groups, and business organizations warned of higher costs and added liability. After extensive debate about data collection, settlement reporting, and the impact on health care access, the bill passed to Appropriations on a divided vote.
SB 294, by Senator Reyes and presented by Senator Laird, would require employers to notify a worker’s emergency contact if the worker is arrested or detained and would create a template to inform employees of state and federal labor rights. Labor and worker advocates said the bill would help workers understand and enforce their rights amid weakened federal enforcement; there was no opposition on file, and the bill passed unanimously to Appropriations. SB 697 would modernize water-rights adjudication by allowing the State Water Board to use technology instead of requiring in-person field investigations; with no opposition, it also passed unanimously.
The committee also advanced SB 37 on attorney advertising, SB 645 on peremptory challenges in civil cases, SB 303 on bias-mitigation trainings in public workplaces, and SB 464 on expanding pay-data reporting for specified state workers. SB 37 drew support from consumer and legal groups but concerns from Walker Advertising about joint advertising; members said negotiations were ongoing, and the bill passed. SB 645 would extend anti-bias jury-selection rules to certain civil rights cases; criminal-defense and defense groups said they were close to agreement, and the bill passed. SB 303 and SB 464 were both amended to narrow scope and moved forward after several opponents shifted to neutral or removed opposition. The committee also approved a consent calendar of additional bills, all sent to Appropriations.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- seek the good of the people of New Hampshire.
- for the land of the free and the home of for the land of the free and the home of the<00:13:36.639><c
- Um, but I'm going to go to my other speech." This committee of conference report does two things.
- </c> 10% of the total uh load of a utility. 10% of the total uh load of a utility.
- </c> of of from today. and the observance of of of from today. and the observance of that<05:50:09.360
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Apr 6th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- This is the birthday of life and of love and wings, and of the gay, great happening, illimitably earth
- Now the ears of my ears awake, and now the eyes of my eyes of my, Now the ears of my ears awake, and
- of the 2028 L.A.
- hundreds of thousands of people at the Woodstock Festival.
- activism, becoming one of the most recognizable protest songs of the time and a symbol of the countercultural
MO
Missouri 2026 Regular Session
2026 Legislative Session - Day Forty Four - Tuesday, March 31 - Morning Session
Missouri House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The freedom of religion, the freedom of expression, is in our very Constitution.
- Yeah, as a former pastor, just the importance of freedom of our citizens, of parishioners in my church
- Yeah, as a former pastor, just the importance of freedom of our citizens, of parishioners in my church
- Freedom of our citizens, of parishioners in my church, things like that, that they have the knowledge
- on the basis of religion, on political speech, on freedom.