Video & Transcript : 'Islamic Republic' :

Page 6 of 229
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Apr 22nd, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Let me ask you about Islam.
  • Let me ask you about Islam.
  • Let me ask you about Islam.
  • Do you believe that the left is using Islam as a sword to slit the throat of America?
  • Islam is the sword the left is using to slit their throat of America.
Committee: House Judiciary
Summary: The committee first took up H.C.R. 41, which would direct the ATC to allow electronic rebates for beer purchases and clarify that rebates are the manufacturer’s responsibility. The author and supporters said it would align beer with wine and other liquor rules. With no opposition, the resolution was moved forward. The committee then advanced H.B. 1029, which extends a moratorium on certain alcoholic beverage permits in House District 3 to give Shreveport and the MPC more time to revise local ordinances; it also moved forward without objection. The committee next considered two related bills by Rep. Egan on district attorney funding. H.B. 660, as amended, raises the state warrant amount used to support assistant district attorneys from $50,000 to $60,000 and sets district attorney salaries at $65,000 effective July 1, 2026. The Louisiana District Attorneys Association and several DAs supported the bill, saying it would help recruit and retain prosecutors. H.B. 719, also amended, increases the number of assistant district attorney warrants in many judicial districts statewide, with supporters describing it as a response to crime, population changes, and local workload needs. Both bills were reported favorably as amended. Rep. Ventrella’s H.B. 227, allowing court filings on letter-sized paper instead of only legal-sized paper, was also moved favorably. The committee then heard extensive testimony on H.B. 335 by Rep. Henry, which would expand citizenship verification requirements for entities administering public benefits. Supporters said it was meant to ensure state dollars go to U.S. and Louisiana citizens and to add accountability for NGOs; opponents, including farmers, food-access nonprofits, and health providers, argued it would create administrative burdens, chill participation in SNAP-related programs, and discourage vulnerable people from seeking food or medical help. After an amendment exempting nonprofit food distribution was adopted, the bill was reported favorably by a 12-5 vote. Finally, the committee took up H.B. 623, a tobacco and vapor products permitting bill. After adopting a three-minute rule, the committee accepted an amendment removing tobacco products from the proposed three-tier permitting system and excluding lawful marijuana products authorized by LDH. The amended bill was then reported favorably. The transcript ends as the committee was beginning H.B. 708.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, January 14, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
  • Republic. This bill increases funding Republic.
  • In the Democratic Republic of Congo, they fight corruption and strengthen the rule of law.
  • In the Democratic Republic<05:33:00.638><c> of</c><05:33:00.878><c> Congo,</c><05:33:01.600><c> they<
  • Where civil law is subordinated to Islamic authority, freedom, prosperity, and security collapse.
Bills: HB7006 , HR992
FL

Florida 2026 5th Special Session

Judiciary Feb 3rd, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • The second group I'll talk about is the Council on American Islamic Relations, which is CAIR.
  • Yes, that organization that they created as a result of that meeting was the Council on American Islamic
  • This is my ninth year teaching in Islamic schools in Florida, Missouri, a choice I've made because the
  • And out of the five, three of them made it very public on Twitter that they are attacking Islamic education
  • , Islamic schools.
Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard a long agenda of bills, beginning with several probate, civil rights, and claims measures. Senators Burgess’s SB 326 on curators of estates was explained as a modernization of probate law; an amendment narrowing the bill was adopted, and the committee reported the bill favorably 10-0 after limited public testimony, including opposition from Ray Contreras. Burgess’s SB 1096, clarifying filing deadlines under the Florida Civil Rights Act, also passed unanimously 11-0. The committee then approved several claims bills, including SB 28 for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland, SB 6 for a child injured after DCF’s handling of abuse allegations, SB 18 for the estate of McKenzie Navarre against the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, SB 26 for the estate of Mark Legata against FDOT, and SB 2 for the estate of Daniel Maudsley against DHSMV, with votes ranging from 10-1 to 11-0 and mostly no debate or opposition. The committee also took up trust and family-law related bills. Leader Berman’s SB 786 created a nonjudicial process for closing uncontested trusts and discharging trustees; after a technical amendment and testimony from Ray Contreras raising notice concerns, it passed 11-0. President Gates’s SB 50 expanded veterans’ courts statewide, drew broad support from veterans’ groups and advocacy organizations, and was reported favorably 11-0. Senator Simon’s SB 538 standardized extracurricular participation rules for public, private, virtual, and homeschool students; after multiple amendments on homeschool eligibility, fees, and coach compensation, it passed 11-0 with support and opposition from education-related groups. President Gates’s SB 1004, aimed at consumer protections in the sale of dogs and cats, also passed unanimously after testimony from humane organizations. The committee then considered broader policy bills. President Pro Tem Brodeur’s SB 1366 on claims against the government proposed raising sovereign immunity caps and adding CPI adjustments; local government, hospital, and school representatives supported the Senate’s lower-cap approach while warning against the House version, and the bill was reported favorably 11-0. Senator Jones’s SB 178 on athletics in public K-12 schools, as amended, would let head coaches provide limited personal support to student-athletes and require reporting of assistance; it passed 10-0. Senator Grohl’s SB 1178 on foreign influence and foreign countries of concern drew extensive supportive testimony from national security witnesses and was reported favorably 11-0 after a technical amendment and withdrawal of another amendment. Finally, SB 1632 on ideologies inconsistent with American principles prompted substantial debate and public testimony over domestic terrorism designations, Sharia law references, due process, and free speech concerns; the committee had not yet completed final action on that bill when the transcript ended.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Feb 3rd, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • The second group I’ll talk about is the Council on American Islamic Relations, which is CAIR.
  • Studies and Research, and then they sort of co-opted a Muslim Brotherhood organization called the Islamic
  • This is my ninth year teaching in Islamic schools in Florida, Missouri, a choice I've made because the
  • And out of the five, three of them made it very public on Twitter that they are attacking Islamic education
  • , Islamic schools.
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.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Feb 3rd, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • The second group I’ll talk about is the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which is CAIR.
  • Studies and Research, and then they sort of co-opted a Muslim Brotherhood organization called the Islamic
  • Yes, that organization that they created as a result of that meeting was the Council on American-Islamic
  • This is my ninth year teaching in Islamic schools in Florida, Missouri, a choice I've made because the
  • , Islamic schools.
Bills: S0002 , S0002 , S0006 , S0018 , S0026 , S0028 , S0050 , S0178 , S0326 , S0538 , S0786 , S1004 , S1096 , S1178 , S1366 , S1632 , S1634
Committee: Senate Judiciary
Summary: The Judiciary Committee took up a long agenda of bills, including several claims bills and policy measures. It heard and approved, mostly unanimously, bills on curators of estates (SB 326, as amended), remedies under the Florida Civil Rights Act (SB 1096), a claim for Reginald Jackson against the City of Lakeland (SB 28), a DCF-related claim for L.E. (SB 6), trust administration reform (SB 786, as amended), a Broward County claim for the estate of a deceased minor (SB 18, as amended, 10-1), a DOT claim for the estate of Mark Legata (SB 26), veterans’ courts (CS/SB 50), extracurricular activities in public K-12 schools (CS/CS/SB 538, as amended), and pet sale protections for dogs and cats (SB 1004). The committee also considered the sovereign immunity claims bill (SB 1366), which was presented as a starting point for negotiations with the House and was reported favorably after testimony from local government, hospital, and school representatives who urged the Senate to hold to its current lower cap levels. The committee later approved a claims bill for the estate of Daniel Maudsley against DHSMV (SB 2). The meeting included repeated roll calls and favorable reports on each measure, with the only recorded no vote on SB 18 from Senator Osgood. Several bills drew testimony from supporters and, in some cases, objections. SB 50 on veterans’ courts received broad support from veterans’ groups, criminal justice organizations, and community advocates who said it would expand problem-solving court options for veterans dealing with service-related issues. SB 538 on extracurricular activities drew support and opposition, and was amended to address home education eligibility, a school activity fee issue, technical conforming changes, and compensation for extracurricular sponsors. SB 1004 was presented as consumer protection legislation aimed at retail pet dealers, requiring disclosure of animal health records and financing terms and creating a private right of action for violations. The committee also heard extensive testimony on SB 1178, which would create a foreign interference restriction and enforcement framework targeting foreign countries of concern and designated foreign terrorist organizations. Supporters described it as a national-security measure to limit foreign influence, protect critical infrastructure, and restrict gifts, contracts, and sister-city ties; the sponsor withdrew one amendment and the bill was reported favorably. Finally, SB 1632, dealing with ideologies inconsistent with American principles, prompted substantial questioning about due process, domestic terrorist organization designations, Sharia law references, student discipline, and notice procedures. The sponsor said the bill was intended to protect constitutional principles and target conduct rather than belief, but the transcript ends while public testimony on that bill is still underway.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are among the holiest days in Islam, marked by prayer, reflection, charity
  • Osama Mukaddem, a legislative director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, California chapter
  • I'm a legislative director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, California chapter, and a proud
  • I am a master's student, and I'm also here with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and I wholeheartedly
Summary: The Committee on Public Employment and Retirement heard several bills, beginning with AB 2483, which would create a permanent pathway for formerly incarcerated Cal Fire fire crew members to receive certification and pursue firefighting jobs after release. The author and supporters described incarcerated firefighters as highly trained workers who perform dangerous frontline fire suppression work but often leave without credentials or a clear hiring path. The chair strongly supported the bill, and there was no opposition. The committee then considered AB 1619, which would raise trustee stipend limits for retirement board members from $100 to $320 per meeting for county retirement systems, CalSTRS, and CalPERS, subject to local approval. Supporters argued the current stipend is nearly 40 years old and no longer reflects the complexity and fiduciary responsibility of overseeing large pension systems, and that higher stipends could improve diversity and participation. The bill was passed on a 7-0 vote and sent to Appropriations. The committee also passed its cleanup bill, AB 2780, making technical and conforming changes to retirement laws, and AB 2519, which corrects an unintended consequence of prior CalSTRS legislation so certain charter school employees can remain eligible for CalSTRS membership; both bills advanced unanimously to Appropriations. AB 2017, the California Eid State Holiday Act, was heard next. The bill would recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in California and provide excused absences for students observing the holidays. Supporters, including Muslim students, educators, and advocacy organizations, said the measure would promote inclusion and help Muslim Californians feel seen and respected. Members spoke in favor, and the bill passed 7-0 to Appropriations. Finally, AB 2656 would require public employers to give employee organizations 45 days’ written notice before developing or using generative AI in represented job classifications. Supporters said the bill would ensure transparency and labor input, while county and special district groups raised concerns about scope and implementation but expressed willingness to keep working on the measure. It also passed 7-0 to Appropriations, and the meeting adjourned.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee Apr 22nd, 2026

Public Employment and Retirement

Transcript Highlights:
  • Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are among the holiest days in Islam, marked by prayer, reflection, charity
  • Osama Mukaddem, legislative director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, California chapter
  • I'm a legislative director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations, California chapter, and a proud
  • I am a master's student, and I'm also here with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and I full-heartedly
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Look, after the Islamic Revolution in Tehran, in Iran, back in the late '70s, I remember a constituent
  • He says, 'You know what the biggest...' ...the show that has the highest ratings in Iran, in the Islamic
  • Republic of Iran?
CA
Transcript Highlights:
  • Look, after the Islamic Revolution in Tehran, in Iran, back in the late '70s, I remember a constituent
  • He says, you know what the biggest... ...the show that has the highest ratings in Iran, in the Islamic
  • Republic of Iran?
Summary: The Assembly Select Committee on the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games held its first hearing at the LA84 Foundation to examine the legacy of the 1984 Los Angeles Games and lessons for 2028. Chair Tina McKinnor and Senator Ben Allen opened by emphasizing the region’s opportunity to build on the 1984 Games’ success, while LA84 Foundation leaders described the foundation’s role in preserving that legacy through youth sports, play equity, and community investment. A youth panelist from Heart of Los Angeles testified that LA84-supported programs helped him stay engaged in sports, build confidence and communication skills, and hope for more community participation and opportunity from the 2028 Games. Former LA Olympic organizing committee officials Richard Perlman and Bob Graziano gave a detailed history of how the 1984 Games were privately financed, used existing venues, relied heavily on volunteers, and generated a large surplus. They said the organizing committee maximized revenue through television rights, sponsorships, and ticket sales, while keeping costs low through disciplined budgeting and community-based procurement. Members asked about equitable economic benefits, volunteer recruitment, ticket access, security, traffic, and funding. Witnesses said the 1984 model involved extensive community outreach, low-cost tickets, and local purchasing, and they urged a structured, deliberate approach to small-business participation and transparency in 2028 planning. Later witnesses focused on the long-term legacy of the 1984 Games. Zev Yaroslavsky argued that the Games succeeded because voters rejected taxpayer underwriting, forcing a private model that protected the city from financial risk, and he said the Games left major cultural and civic legacies, including the LA Opera and broader arts growth. LA84 and Play Equity Fund leaders said the surplus was intentionally used to create lasting impact, including support for millions of youth, research, and policy work. Renato Paiva described how LA84 support helped expand Access Youth Academy and elevate squash as an Olympic sport, and Derek Fisher spoke about the importance of free youth sports and the need to preserve access and opportunity as Los Angeles prepares for 2028.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Capital Budget Feb 24th, 2026 at 08:00 am

Capital Budget

WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Capital Budget Feb 24th, 2026

Transcript Highlights:
  • Cherry Street Village is restoring the nearly 100-year-old historic Talmud Torah Islamic School, the
  • He is the same architect who designed Seattle's Paramount and Coliseum Theaters, now a Banana Republic
Summary: The Capital Budget Committee held a hearing on Proposed Substitute House Bill 2295, the supplemental capital budget. Staff said the proposal totals nearly $911 million, including about $400 million in bonds and $511 million from other state and federal sources, with much of the increase over the governor’s proposal coming from Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funding. Major spending areas include housing and homelessness, K-12 construction, human services facilities, and CCA-funded clean energy, decarbonization, and habitat restoration projects. The chair said the committee would not take amendments at the hearing and planned to vote out the budget on Thursday, with a technical fix striker expected. Testimony was largely supportive of the House proposal, with many witnesses asking the committee to preserve or increase specific items in final negotiations. Housing advocates urged support for the Housing Trust Fund, manufactured housing preservation, and projects such as Alliance Place, Cloverdale Cottages, Cherry Street Village, Somos, and the Thrive Center. Education and public facility witnesses backed investments in school seismic safety, small district modernization, Healthy Kids Healthy Schools, community college and university maintenance, and projects at Cascadia College, WSU, CWU, and UW. Health and human services testimony supported behavioral health, Tubman Center, HealthPoint, pregnant parenting treatment, and the Yakima Behavioral Health Hub. Natural resources, climate, and infrastructure witnesses praised funding for Flood Plains by Design, community forests, trust land transfer, salmon recovery, the Skokomish land purchase, and the Lower Columbia River dredging project. Several local governments and organizations requested additional support or Senate-level funding for specific projects, while Climate Solutions cautioned against using CCA dollars to backfill existing obligations. The committee heard no votes during the hearing, and the chair closed by saying the budget would be executed on Thursday.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

01/26/2026 - Senate Federalism

Senate Federalism Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:
  • These bills are based on ignorance of Muslim religious practices and are driven by anti-Muslim and Islamic
  • portraying Sharia as a foreign or political threat, these bills advance a baseless narrative that Islam
  • The court concluded that by singling out Islam for unfavorable treatment, the law violated the Establishment
  • Efforts to single out Muslims and advance the ugly idea that anything Islamic is un-American are unjust
Summary: The committee heard several bills and a memorial, with extensive testimony on each. SB 1018 would amend Arizona’s foreign-law statute to expressly include Sharia law. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill was needed to prevent foreign legal systems from being enforced in Arizona courts and said it would not restrict private religious practice. Opponents, including the ACLU of Arizona, said the measure singled out Islam, was based on fear rather than evidence, and was unconstitutional. After debate, the committee approved SB 1018 on a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered SB 1075, which restricts conveyance of Arizona land to foreign entities deemed hostile to the United States and adds disclosure and penalty provisions through an amendment. The sponsor said the bill was modeled on similar efforts in other states and was intended to prevent adversarial foreign ownership near sensitive sites. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill as amended on a 4-3 vote. SB 1141, dealing with presidential electors, would require electors to vote for a properly nominated successor if a winning presidential or vice presidential candidate dies or withdraws before the Electoral College meets, and would treat an elector’s office as vacant if the elector fails to appear. Supporters said the bill closes a gap in Arizona law and helps avoid a deadlock in an unlikely but possible contingency. The committee passed SB 1141 unanimously, 7-0. Finally, the committee heard SCM 1003, a memorial urging Congress to affirm state authority over election processes and campaign finance through a constitutional amendment. Supporters framed it as a federalism measure responding to concerns about outside money in politics, while some members questioned claims about money laundering and noted the memorial’s broad language. The committee approved SCM 1003 unanimously, 7-0.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Governmental Organization Committee Jun 23rd, 2026

Governmental Organization

Transcript Highlights:
  • Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are among the holiest days in Islam, marked by prayer, reflection.
  • Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are among the holiest days in Islam, marked by prayer, reflection, charity
  • It writes two specific Islamic holidays into state statute by name and authorizes the State Board of
  • Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are explicitly theological, tied to two of the five pillars of Islam.
  • Vosia Fruh with the Council on American-Islamic Relations, in strong support. Thank you.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Mar 13th, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • United States and the great state of Texas. to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic
  • Ramirez also served as the Deputy Division Commander for the 2nd Infantry Division in the Republic of
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session - 02/20/25

Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I will now recite a few verses from the Islamic holy book, the Holy Quran.
  • will now recite a few verses<00:04:10.280><c> from</c><00:04:10.480><c> the</c><00:04:10.599><c> Islamic
  • </c><00:04:11.000><c> holy</c><00:04:11.319><c> book</c><00:04:11.760><c> the</c> verses from the Islamic
  • holy book the verses from the Islamic holy book the holy<00:04:12.439><c> Quran</c><00:04:13.439><c>
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Wednesday, March 26, 2025)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • He solemnly replied, 'A republic, if you can keep it.'
  • For nearly 250 years, those immortal words have lived at the heart of our Republic.
  • I fear that this President does not share the same commitment to our Republic.
  • to join me in fighting to keep our Republic.
  • </c><04:43:19.080><c> he</c> the same commitment to our Republic he the same commitment to our Republic
Bills: HJR75
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee Apr 13th, 2026

Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • My name is Alia Yusufi on behalf of the California chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations
  • Alia Yusufi on behalf of the California chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations, a proud
  • My name is Majdal Islam. I'm from the GLA, and I support this bill. Thank you. Good afternoon.
  • I am the executive director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, which is an umbrella
  • I'm here with Council on American Islamic Relations, and I support this bill. Thank you.
Summary: The committee heard several privacy, technology, and public safety bills. SB 898 would require manufacturers of connected consumer products to disclose how long software support will last and to notify consumers when support is nearing its end; Consumer Reports supported the measure, while members raised concerns about private enforcement, notice mechanics, and replacement obligations for leased devices. The bill was amended and passed 5-1 to Judiciary, with the measure placed on call. SB 1279 would authorize Long Beach to install additional speed safety cameras on Pacific Coast Highway under the same privacy and equity guardrails as the existing pilot program, including limits on data use, no facial recognition, warning periods, and reduced fees for low-income recipients. Supporters cited severe crashes and fatalities on PCH, while opponents raised civil liberties and due process concerns and questioned how the system identifies the actual driver. The committee approved the bill 6-2 and placed it on call. SB 1111, the Artificial Intelligence Abuse Protection Act, would create civil remedies for non-consensual AI voice, image, and video cloning and digital replicas. Support came from SAG-AFTRA and Common Sense Media, and members discussed concerns about background images and employer liability, including a request to preserve a rebuttable presumption for good-faith employers. The bill passed 7-1 to Public Safety and was placed on call. SB 1217 would create a DOJ-run clearinghouse for survivors of non-consensual intimate imagery and deepfakes to request removal from online platforms; survivors and advocacy groups testified in strong support, and members discussed privacy, cybersecurity, funding, and the lack of a private right of action. It passed 8-0 to Public Safety and was placed on call. The committee also heard SB 1095, which would require fusion centers and participating agencies to adopt MOUs barring use of sensitive personal information for immigration enforcement or racial/identity profiling, require annual reporting, and allow audits and inspections. Supporters argued fusion centers have operated with too little oversight and have been used to circumvent state privacy and immigration laws; some members supported the transparency goals while others raised concerns about operational ambiguity and the bill’s interaction with existing law. The discussion continued, with the author and members debating the scope of permissible information sharing and enforcement consequences for violations.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee Apr 13th, 2026

Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • My name is Alia Yusufi on behalf of the California chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations
  • My name is Majdal Islam. I'm from L.A. and I support this bill. Thank you. Good afternoon.
  • I am the executive director of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, which is an umbrella
  • My name is Yia Abidine, and I'm here with the Council on American Islamic Relations, and I support this
  • I'm here with the Council on American Islamic Relations, and I support this bill. Thank you.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Combatting Antisemitism Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Transcript Highlights:
  • They declared that reports of rape by Hamas and Islamic Jihad were Zionist propaganda.
  • So it might be genocide studies; it could also be Middle Eastern studies; it can be the study of Islam
  • specifically to the way in which they were teaching about Islam and around Israel and the Middle East
  • Similarly, there were some questionable ways in which Islam was being taught.
  • And the leader of the school, the dean of the Divinity School, a scholar of Islam, a Christian man, says
Summary: The meeting opened with approval of the July 9, 2025 minutes and a roll call confirming quorum. DESE Commissioner Pedro Martinez gave his first official testimony, affirming the department’s commitment to preventing antisemitism and societal bias in schools, saying DESE supports the commission’s recommendations and will add staff resources to help develop and disseminate guidance and instructional materials. He said DESE’s rubric and guidance for identifying effective curricula and resources should be finalized in late fall, and commissioners welcomed the partnership and asked about the ongoing Section 98A work. The commission then heard from Professor Eitan Hirsch of Tufts, who presented research on antisemitism and campus climate. He described survey findings showing sharply different Jewish and non-Jewish views on Israel, increasing social pressure on Jewish students, and a growing tendency for Jewish students to hide their identity or feel penalized for participating in Jewish life. He argued that colleges need to do more to teach students how to handle dissent and build cultures of viewpoint diversity, and commissioners asked about best practices, regional differences, and the role of campus climate surveys. Rabbi Fine of UMass Amherst Hillel and student Sky Landau testified about antisemitism at UMass, especially since October 7. Fine described both a thriving Jewish student community and serious incidents including harassment, vandalism, classroom issues, protests, and students hiding Jewish identity; he said the university is working with Hillel and DEI leadership on goals and strategy for Jewish inclusion, and he urged more training and structured dialogue. Landau described antisemitic incidents she experienced or witnessed, including hostile BDS meetings, exclusion of Zionist students, Holocaust denial, threats, and social ostracism, and said Hillel was the only consistently safe space for her. Commissioners discussed reporting pathways, affinity groups, mental health supports, and ways to distinguish criticism of Israel from antisemitism. Later, the commission moved to its recommendations and made several edits before voting, including deleting offensive wording in a footnote, adding a citation to recent FBI hate crime data, and restoring language tied to an existing DESE regulation, 603 CMR 26.05, on classroom neutrality and fact-based instruction. Commissioners also reiterated that criticism of Israel’s government is not inherently antisemitic. The meeting included a brief interruption by a protester, after which the commission recessed and then resumed its work on the draft recommendations.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Congressional Redistricting, Select Jul 26th, 2025

Congressional Redistricting, Select

Transcript Highlights:
  • The United States is a republic, not a democracy.
  • Cultural and economic diversity strengthens our republic.
  • You believe in the business of our democratic republic.
  • We are a democratic republic. That means no oligarchy, no king.
  • Chair Kolsomija, Rizvi, are you ready to testify on behalf of the Council of American Islamic Relations