Transcript Highlights:

• They refuse it, and I will say, DFPS and Audrey.
• We're pushing people into the jails, so this bill is an opportunity to collect more data.
• I talk with people all across the country, nobody's collecting this data point.
• We should be. collecting it, because when you're in the hospital, you have to tell the person every day
• the availability of an FDA-approved laboratory test. that leverages the same blood spots already collected

Bills: SB437, SB528, SB626, SB636, SB884, SB968, SB1044, SB1608, SB2336

Keywords: healthcare, training, abuse, neglect, penalties, chemical dependency, safety, regulation, inpatient competency restoration, competency restoration, forensic mental health, mental health law, criminal competency, incompetent to stand trial, Chapter 46B, HHSC, Health and Human Services Commission, state hospital, behavioral health, local mental health authority

Transcript Highlights:

• We did our best to collect some of that information to try to estimate the ongoing cost, which is...
• We did our best to collect some of that information to try to estimate the ongoing cost, which is an
• I'm going to give the president of the Arizona Sheriff's Association the enviable right of first refusal
• I'm going to give the president of the Arizona Sheriff's Association the enviable right of first refusal
• He's not refusing. Yes. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair, Vice Chair, members of the committee. Thank you.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:34:00.880> to that, Speaker Johnson still refuses to that, Speaker Johnson still refuses
• :16:23.680> acknowledge again, Democrats refused to acknowledge again, Democrats refused to acknowledge
• <08:04:14.478> this Democrats refuse to accept this Democrats refuse to accept this Republican
• > governing refuse to accept Republicans governing refuse to accept Republicans governing in<08
• <08:12:54.478> to because Republicans have refused to because Republicans have refused to

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the idea is to go with larger proven programs that we can collect data from, get reporting back from
• As the law stands right now, it says no employer may refuse to hire, discipline, discharge, or.
• Currently, in law, it says no employer may refuse to hire, discipline, discharge, or otherwise penalize

Bills: HB2997, HB2021, HB3041, HB1823, HB3372, HB1427, HB3127, HB3128, HCR1020, HB4198, HB3000, HB3001, HB3002, HB3003, HB3004, HB3005, HB3006, HB3007, HB3008, SB392, HB3320

Keywords: motor vehicles, administrative fines, license regulation, state agencies, employment levels, after-school programs, grant funding, community organizations, child care, Oklahoma Department of Human Services, credit card transactions, payment methods, service charge, consumer rights, financial regulation, housing finance, Oklahoma Housing Finance Agency, publication requirements, housing policy, state regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• So the definition of a digital service is a website, an application, a program, or software that collects
• Um, refused to or stopped, I should say, providing services to the state of Texas.
• The association refuses to investigate whether the director lied.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, the definition of a digital service is a website, an application, a program, or software that collects
• Pornhub refused to, or stopped, I should say, providing services to the state of Texas.
• The association refuses to investigate whether the director left.

Bills: SB1361, SB2105, SB2690, SB2713, SCR38, SB2637, SB2881

Keywords: SB 1361, Texas disaster recovery loan, small business loan, micro-business loan, community development financial institution, CDFI, economic disaster assistance, post-disaster financing, business recovery fund, Texas Economic Development Bank, zero-interest loan, working capital, payroll support, health benefits, job retention, declared disaster, small business relief, microenterprise, franchise exclusion, private equity-backed business

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Because this bill to be filed, an 18 year-old male collected and stored images of teenage girls
• When you're 18, the government has refused to protect these adults is our obligation to let them protect
• have been issues in the past where some of the companies who make the chemicals for lethal injection refused

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And honestly, I'm I�m so glad to see so many Texans here at their state capital who refuse to be silent
• Okay, and so they'll be collecting data. that would suggest the student outcomes? Yes, sir.
• I refuse to let that happen to our K-12 public education system.

Bills: HB3, HB3

Keywords: education savings account, educational expenses, certified educational assistance organization, school choice, funding, special education, tuition reimbursement, emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Transcript Highlights:

• The SBA is subject to several investment restrictions within Chapter 215, collectively known as the Protecting
• This definition includes refusing to deal, terminating business activities, or taking other actions to
• fly a Brandy Fine for Congress flag in their school—as much as I might enjoy that—if that teacher refused

Summary: The Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability met with a quorum present and took up two bills and one presentation. Senate Bill 108, on administrative procedures, was presented by Senator Burgess on behalf of Senator Grall. The bill would require agencies to systematically review rules over five years old, submit annual regulatory plans and reports, and take action on reviewed rules; it also would speed publication of proposed rules after new rulemaking authority and expand transparency for incorporated materials and rule histories. Americans for Prosperity appeared in support, there was no debate, and the bill was reported favorably on a roll call vote. The committee then heard a presentation from State Board of Administration Executive Director Chris Spencer on implementation of statutory investment restrictions affecting state funds. He reviewed the SBA’s structure and fiduciary duties, said the agency must maximize financial return using only pecuniary factors, and described the Protecting Florida’s Investments Act restrictions involving Northern Ireland, Cuba, Venezuela, Israel, Sudan, Iran, and China. He noted recent changes, including expanded Iran restrictions after the October 7 attacks, the addition of China-related divestment requirements, and the SBA’s move to eliminate China and Hong Kong from its global equity benchmarks; he said the agency is ahead of schedule on required divestment and in compliance with the law. Senate Bill 100, on display of flags by governmental entities, was then presented by Chair Fine. The bill would prohibit political flags on government buildings and allow active-duty service members and veterans to use reasonable force to stop flag desecration. The committee heard extensive public testimony, with supporters arguing government buildings should not display political messages and opponents raising First Amendment, vagueness, and enforcement concerns, especially regarding LGBTQ-related flags and school settings. Senators also questioned the bill’s definitions and the reasonable-force provision. After debate, the committee voted to report SB 100 favorably, with Senators Arrington and Polsky voting no and Senators Brodeur, McClain, Rodriguez, Fine, and Chair DeSiglie voting yes. At the end of the meeting, Senator Rodriguez was recorded as voting yes on SB 108, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• me up to the fourth floor and showed me into the dusty room where all the study committee reports collect
• 10,000 students every year from every region of New Hampshire take advantage of this program, collectively
• eligible students, and data from the Department of Education supports that no school district has refused
• <00:59:13.319> to<00:59:13.520> provide school district has refused to provide school
• district has refused to provide special<00:59:14.240> education<00:59:14.880> or<00:59

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• ><04:53:09.200> prospective collect more information on prospective collect more information on
• Do we we have, what's been collected.
• It just acknowledges that the data that's been collected over the years has been collected under two
• did tell us that his father was refusing did tell us that his father was refusing to<05:11:58.160
• When I say we, I mean a collective we.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am pleased to present AB 485, which helps workers collect their stolen wages.
• We remain committed to working collectively to address the concerns as the bill moves forward.
• Particularly in how we collect demographic data.
• It's in alignment with data already collected from the Department of Justice, and AB 935 will provide
• Colleagues, this bill is about more than the data collection itself.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Court that is a significant risk of violating the Constitution's separation of powers provision in refusing
• audit can only be presented to the SJC in the context of regular litigation over specific actions or refusals
• This is not a case Or refusals to take specific actions.
• Which would be: you could interpose an objection, you can then litigate that, etc., or just refuse, and
• aggregate viewed as impairments to independence of mind, and all three can also be individually and collectively

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee hearing focused on whether the Office of the State Auditor may constitutionally audit the Massachusetts Legislature under Chapter 250 of the Acts of 2024 and what such an audit could include under generally accepted government auditing standards. Chair Cindy Friedman opened by explaining the background: voters approved Ballot Question 1 in November 2024, the law took effect in January 2025, and the Auditor then initiated audits of both chambers. The chair said the subcommittee was seeking expert testimony because the proposed audit scope, constitutionality, and possible bias concerns remained unresolved. Public testimony was invited, but no members of the public pre-registered; written testimony remained open for a short period after the hearing. The hearing then proceeded with invited experts on constitutional law/state government and auditing-related issues. Professor Lawrence Friedman testified that the ballot initiative’s approval by the Attorney General and by voters did not resolve constitutional questions, and he argued Chapter 250 violates the Massachusetts Constitution. He said the Legislature has constitutional authority to set its own rules and manage its proceedings, and that an executive-branch audit would intrude on legislative deliberation, speech and debate protections, and separation of powers. He also warned that even audits of supposedly administrative matters could become a vehicle for repeated document demands and litigation that would indirectly burden legislative functioning. In questioning, senators pressed him on the line between administrative and deliberative functions, the role of the Attorney General versus the courts, the possibility of retroactive audit scope, and whether prior legislative consent to audits mattered; he said prior consent would not bind future legislatures and that constitutionality is ultimately for the courts. Professor Ray La Raja also opposed the audit, framing it as a threat to institutional independence and representative democracy. He argued that allowing an executive-branch official to audit the Legislature without consent would upset separation of powers, chill internal debate, and create a precedent for broader executive intrusion. He said voters often support “transparency” reforms without fully appreciating institutional consequences, and that legislatures should defend their autonomy, especially amid what he described as broader executive overreach nationally. Senators asked about chilling effects, the practical distinction between administrative and core legislative functions, and whether the courts or the Legislature should resolve the issue; he said the courts would ultimately adjudicate disputes, but the Legislature should not waive its constitutional authority lightly. Jean Kempthorne took the opposite view, arguing the audit is permissible and should proceed. She said the state auditor is a constitutional officer accountable directly to the people, that the audit power can be expanded by statute, and that separation of powers does not require watertight compartments. She contended the audit would not displace core legislative powers because the auditor can only evaluate operations, report findings, and make recommendations. She also argued the Legislature itself already conducts audits of other branches, so it is inconsistent to claim an audit of the Legislature is unconstitutional. In response to senators’ questions, she said there are guardrails against truly intrusive requests, but that the administrative-versus-legislative distinction is not a workable bright line; she suggested disputes should be handled case by case, with objections, negotiation, or litigation if specific requests go too far. No votes or formal actions were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Please bear with us throughout these regional hearings as we collect public testimony via this video
• I'll give her a time limit, and if she refuses to respond. Well, that's what we requested earlier.
• It amounts to intentional race-based discrimination, and I urge Texas to refuse to take such action.
• Paso, that three-judge panel had ruled prior to Padaway that that was the law in Texas, and they had refused
• If only Republicans can win and they continue to refuse to show any moral courage, we're doomed.

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• receive a request from an administrator, educator, or security. security personnel officer to leave and refuse
• The man was asked to leave several times, but he refused.
• I want something that can utilize to move people along or to arrest them if they were. refused to do
• This basically tightens the belt for these individuals that refuse to follow the law.
• Currently, if a sexual assault exam is performed and a kit is collected, that kit sits on a shelf and

Bills: HB316, HB353, HB 1160, HB1414, HB1422, HB1443, HB1713, HB1789, HB1902, HB2073, HB2666, HB2695, HB316

Keywords: motor fuel, criminal offense, metering device, organized crime, Texas Penal Code, trespassing, school safety, day-care centers, education, trespass, public safety, utility employees, criminal penalties, assault, harassment, public duties, safety, law enforcement, driving offenses, license regulations

Transcript Highlights:

• Our team stepped in and tried to negotiate with the landlord's attorney, but they refused initially.
• 00:31:46.720> attorney,<00:31:47.200> but<00:31:47.440> they<00:31:47.679> refused
• landlord's attorney, but they refused landlord's attorney, but they refused initially.<00:31:49.279
• Uh, you know, sort of the end of our collection of all of the bills that have been brought to our committee

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• There are too many of these instances of public schools that refuse to complete change.
• They refuse to understand that mascots are not educationally sound and that they are a violation of civil
• The data collection in this bill would ensure transparency and accountability for schools with police
• Prohibiting the use of such mascots makes a powerful collective statement that stereotypes are harmful
• In either scenario, you have to collect a lot of data, a lot of personal sensitive data like driver's

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee opened a public hearing on 41 bills related to school climate and safety, with chairs Jason Lewis and Ken Gordon outlining procedures and noting more than 125 witnesses. The first major topic was the “Study Act” on cell phones in schools and related social media restrictions (House 666/Senate 335). Secretary of Education Pat Tutwiler and Attorney General Andrea Campbell testified in strong support, arguing that bell-to-bell phone-free policies would improve student focus, reduce anxiety and distraction, and support mental health. Several legislators also supported the approach, though Representative Jeff Turco and Senator John Keenan emphasized narrower bills focused only on school-day phone restrictions rather than broader social media regulation. Senator John Velis likewise backed a comprehensive school-hours restriction, citing student distraction and mental health concerns. Representative Tarsky described successful implementation of a Yondr pouch system in a school where he served as principal, saying it improved engagement and reduced bullying and discipline issues. The committee then heard testimony on a bill to prohibit Native American mascots in public schools (Senate 312/House 575). Senator Joe Comerford, Brittany Wally, and Rhonda Anderson all urged passage, saying Native mascots are dehumanizing, harmful to Native youth, and inconsistent with civil rights and educational values. They described support from tribal nations and noted that many Massachusetts schools have already changed mascots, but some still resist. The hearing also included testimony on school start times (House 647/Senate 360), where middle school students Caroline Duffy and Emery Jarvis described exhaustion and survey data showing widespread sleep deprivation. Former educator Telia Jacobs, former principal Rep. Tarsky, and others argued that later start times would improve health, learning, and student well-being, while acknowledging transportation and scheduling challenges. Zoriana Petrosian, who helped write one of the bills as a student, said the state already has enough research to act now. Additional bills drew testimony on related school issues. Dr. Raul Fernandez supported a bill promoting racially integrated schools (Senate 324), citing a recent advisory council report showing large disparities in segregated schools and urging DESE to develop a statewide integration strategy. On safe firearm storage education (House 548/Senate 397), multiple witnesses from Grassroots for Gun Violence Prevention and school communities supported annual school-based education about secure storage, saying it would help prevent child access to unsecured firearms and build on local resolutions already adopted in some districts. The committee also heard testimony on bills to expand career and academic plans (House 533/Senate 438), with speakers saying more structured planning would help students make informed college and career choices. Later, testimony on child sexual abuse prevention and survivor support bills described the prevalence of abuse, the need for training in schools and youth-serving organizations, and the importance of extending compensation and prevention measures. Throughout the hearing, chairs repeatedly closed bills with no witnesses and moved the agenda forward, but no votes were taken in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• arguments that belong in debate clubs, college courses, or personal reading, not in the general collections
• and the concern that this may require ...you know, concern that this may require schools to start collecting
• The school did, the school refused to stop, and so they kept on doing it.
• Representative Abeytia mentioned: the way I view it, it puts trans students in harm's way, and I refuse
• doesn't like that, because there's this whole thing happening with board members right now where they refuse

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And honestly, I'm so glad to see so many Texans here at their state capitol who refuse to be silent as
• And so they'll be collecting data that would suggest the student outcomes? Yes sir.
• I refuse to let that happen to our K-12 public education system.
• So I am paying that in my collection plate offering.
• And you've refused to say that that ideal is not abolishing public education.

Bills: HB 3

Keywords: emergency communication, public safety, interoperability, Texas Interoperability Council, grant program, emergency communications, public safety radio, first responders, radio system, dispatch, 911, emergency management, Texas Division of Emergency Management, public safety infrastructure, Project 25, P25, broadband emergency alerting, outdoor warning sirens, homeland security, disaster response

Transcript Highlights:

• Pages will collect and distribute the Senator's amendment.
• Pages will collect and distribute the senator's amendment.
• Clerk, read the next bill. could collect data, I think, was what could collect data, I think, was what
• <01:18:04.000> to for these past 4 years uh in refusing to for these past 4 years uh in refusing
• For those 90 days that we're here, can you collect my paycheck from both?

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Monday, March 23, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate first handled routine announcements, including welcoming a new group of pages and noting donations of donuts and chicken from local businesses, along with a citation planned for Mr. Herman’s Bakery, which is closing after 103 years. The chamber then took up Senate Bill 858, establishing a Department of Budget and Management Audit and Finance Compliance Unit. A senator moved to send the bill back to second reading to add an amendment, which was adopted without objection, and the bill was reprinted for third reading. The Finance Committee then reported several bills. Senate Bill 84, concerning collective bargaining for graduate assistants at UMCP and UMBC, was laid over after questions about whether graduate assistants are employees or students. Senate Bill 455, creating a transformational project financing program tied to tax increment financing districts, had two committee amendments adopted and was ordered printed for third reading. Senate Bill 623, creating a premium cigar lounge alcoholic beverage license, also received two committee amendments and was ordered up, but a later Howard County amendment was proposed and the bill was laid over. Senate Bill 777, directing workforce development support in hospital closures and related events, was adopted and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 831, addressing child labor penalties, private-sector labor relations, and state labor standards, was adopted with two amendments and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 932, requiring social media platforms to display users’ general geographic location, was laid over after questions. The committee also advanced Senate Bill 340, requiring at least $2 million annually for the Long-Term Care Ombudsman office, with two amendments adopted and the bill sent to third reading. Senate Bill 489, creating a limited license pathway for physicians trained abroad and repealing the fifth pathway program, was adopted with two amendments and sent to third reading. Senate Bill 496, expanding Medicaid coverage for obesity treatment, prompted extended debate over the fiscal note and who would bear the costs; the sponsor argued the estimate was overstated and did not account for likely lower utilization or health-care savings, while an opponent pressed concerns about the state share and structural deficit. The discussion continued without a final vote in the excerpt provided.