Video & Transcript Research : 'legislative reforms'

Page 72 of 500
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Human Services Committee Apr 8th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Planning Council to report to the Legislature, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, and the Assembly
  • This committee would be charged with assuring long-term reform, monitoring disparities, and supporting
  • Thank you for your time and for considering passing this final legislation.
  • Thank you for your time and for considering passing this final legislation.
  • AB 1211 is common-sense legislation ensuring that we follow the science.
Summary: The Assembly Committee on Human Services heard a long agenda of bills focused largely on child welfare, foster care, child care, CalWORKs, mandated reporting, and public benefits. Early items included AB 890, which would ease county transfer rules for nonminor dependents in extended foster care; AB 461, which would replace punitive truancy-related penalties with supportive services for families; and AB 753, which would create an interim associate teacher pathway to help address the child care workforce shortage. Testimony on these bills emphasized barriers faced by foster youth, low-income families, and child care providers, and members expressed support for the general policy direction. The committee also heard AB 926 on foster care visitation, AB 563 on early childhood planning and reporting, AB 601 on standardized mandated reporter training, AB 1074 on CalWORKs reunification aid, AB 822 extending the Commission on the State of Hate, AB 970 creating a Los Angeles County mandated reporter pilot, AB 1161 protecting public benefits during disasters, AB 1172 allowing trained staff to administer emergency seizure medication in community care settings, and AB 363 expanding CalWORKs student supports and work-study. Witnesses generally supported these measures as ways to reduce trauma, improve reunification, modernize reporting and training, and expand access to services. County welfare and child welfare groups, advocacy organizations, and providers largely testified in support, while some bills drew concerns from county representatives about implementation or needed amendments. Several bills were voted out of committee, often unanimously and sometimes as amended, including AB 926, AB 563, AB 601, AB 1074, AB 822, AB 970, AB 1161, and AB 1172; AB 1172 was reported on call. The committee also took up consent items and later voted on subcommittee-held bills AB 461, AB 753, and AB 890, leaving them on call. At the end of the hearing, the committee heard AB 1211, which would protect CalFresh benefits from federal cuts and require a feasibility study on increasing benefits and eligibility; testimony stressed rising food insecurity and the economic importance of food assistance, but the transcript ends before a final vote on that bill.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
  • I think this is a beginning of reworking at our grant reform programs that I have brought forward and
  • This is the way we should be doing this in a way that I think moves along to the next legislative session
  • This is the way we should be doing this in a way that I think moves along to the next legislative session
  • This is the way we should be doing this in a way that I think moves along to the next legislative session
  • This is the way we should be doing this in a way that I think moves along to the next legislative session
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee took up House File 3732, with the author moving both the bill and two separate amendments. The DE1 amendment would create a healthcare workforce grant program to let the Department of Employment and Economic Development identify and fund healthcare workforce shortage areas, while the A1 amendment would establish an Office of Community Investment to provide strategic grant management and help align grants with legislative priorities. Both amendments were adopted, and the bill was laid over for later consideration. The bill author explained that the healthcare workforce proposal is meant to address shortages that market forces alone have not solved, citing examples such as CNA training and rural oncologist recruitment. The Office of Community Investment was described as a way to improve grant oversight, set clearer goals, and strengthen collaboration between agencies and the legislature, drawing on the model of the Office of Justice Programs. Testimony from the Mong American Partnership strongly supported the healthcare workforce grant program, describing successful CNA and phlebotomy pathways, but also noting long waitlists and the need for flexible funding. Members discussed the importance of locating training opportunities in greater Minnesota and in communities with workforce gaps, so distance and travel barriers do not limit access. Several legislators said the proposal would help create good-paying jobs, strengthen healthcare access, and support overworked healthcare workers. The bill’s sponsors also emphasized that codifying grant programs can speed up future funding decisions and improve accountability, and they said the measures would return for further consideration in a few days.
MO

Missouri 2026 Regular Session

Corrections and Public Institutions Jan 12th, 2026 at 12:00 pm

Corrections and Public Institutions

Transcript Highlights:
  • It enhances legislative security staff's ability...
  • It will not change the duties, operations, or authority of the current legislative staff.
  • Conducting legislative business. An example would be off-site hearings or meetings.
  • Now, this is a great piece of legislation. We need this.
  • But however, as I'm sure all of us know, all good legislation goes to die in the Senate.
Keywords: 959, house, all
VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Session - 2026-04-22 - 1:00PM

Vermont House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • So, why advance this legislation?
  • This ensures legislative into rule.
  • Justice Reform. Justice Reform.
  • took testimony from both Legislative took testimony from both Legislative Council<00:28:06.720><
  • <00:39:08.960> Affairs<00:39:09.600> DCF, Legislative Affairs DCF, Legislative Affairs
Keywords: 926, house, all
Summary: The House opened with a devotional in honor of Earth Day, then referred three Senate bills to money committees under House Rule 35A: S. 173 to Appropriations, and S. 232 and S. 327 to Ways and Means. The chamber also adopted JRS 50, a joint resolution setting weekend adjournment so the House and Senate would reconvene no later than April 28, 2026. Several members then made announcements recognizing guests and interns in the gallery, including a homeschooling eighth grader, UVM interns, a constituent shadowing a member, family members, and a Civil Air Patrol delegation. The House next took up S. 89, expanding survivor benefits, and passed it in concurrence with proposal of amendment. It then considered S. 157 on recovery residence certification. The Human Services Committee described the bill as making permanent a temporary framework for certified recovery residences, placing oversight with the Department of Health, requiring standards, data collection, and annual reporting, and preserving resident protections such as written agreements, notice, grievance procedures, and alternative housing arrangements. The committee also said the bill would modernize definitions and repeal the sunset on the current framework. Human Services voted 9-0-2 to recommend the strike-all amendment, and Ways and Means reported the bill favorable 11-0-0, noting no fiscal impact unless a future fee is proposed and enacted. The House adopted the amendment, ordered third reading, and moved the bill forward. The final major item was S. 239, creating a child abuse and neglect reporting working group. The Human Services Committee said Vermont’s mandated reporting system has not been substantially reviewed in over a decade and that the bill would convene experts to review the law and recommend updates. Committee testimony emphasized that Vermont has a very high reporting rate but relatively low rates of substantiation and referral to supportive services, and members said the working group should examine reporting before, during, and after a report, including alternatives when in a child’s best interests. The committee’s strike-all amendment added findings, narrowed and prioritized the working group membership to people with direct child-serving or mandated-reporting experience, set deadlines for an interim report by April 1, 2027 and final recommendations by October 1, 2027, and required the first meeting by August 15. The committee also heard from a wide range of child welfare, education, law enforcement, and advocacy witnesses.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

06/02/2026 - Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Elder Abuse

Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Elder Abuse

Transcript Highlights:
  • systems such as guardian ad litem, to identify gaps in existing laws and oversight, and develop legislative
  • We spent an entire summer going through family court order reform last year.
  • Do the people need to get involved with a constitutional— What kind of legislation needs to happen?
  • To me, that's the cornerstone of any reforms that are going to come out of this, and I know the lady
  • To me, that's the cornerstone of any reforms that are going to come out of this, and I know the lady
Keywords: 1182, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Public Safety Committee Apr 21st, 2026

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • Oregon currently has legislation pending similar to our bill.
  • This measure perhaps... ...has legislation pending similar to our bill.
  • In response to these reforms, many agencies simply left CalGang.
  • It reforms... SB 1373 finally fixes a broken system.
  • Legislation will severely jeopardize public safety.
Summary: The committee met without a quorum and operated as a subcommittee while hearing several bills, with members repeatedly noting that votes would be taken later once a quorum was established. Early in the meeting, the committee heard SB 1446 on parole en banc review and SB 1278 on elderly parole eligibility for certain sex offenses. SB 1446’s author said the bill would give commissioners more discretion in en banc review, make votes public, and allow referral for sexually violent predator evaluation in certain cases; supporters included the California District Attorneys Association, while opponents from Uncommon Law, the Ella Baker Center, and public defender groups argued it would add confusion, create constitutional and litigation concerns, and duplicate existing safeguards. SB 1278 would exclude certain rape, child sexual abuse, and habitual/serial sex offense convictions from elderly parole eligibility; district attorneys and police chiefs supported it as a victim-safety measure, while civil rights and defense organizations opposed it as unnecessary, costly, and inconsistent with evidence on aging and recidivism. Both bills were discussed but not voted on due to the lack of quorum. The committee then heard SB 1354, which would bar out-of-state military or law enforcement personnel from entering California to perform such functions without the Governor’s permission. The author and supporters framed it as protecting state sovereignty and limiting unauthorized armed incursions; the committee accepted an amendment removing a criminal penalty and leaving enforcement to the Attorney General. No opposition testimony was offered, and members expressed support, but no vote was taken because quorum was still lacking. The committee also heard SB 926, a bill to fund implementation of Proposition 36. Supporters, including sheriffs, district attorneys, probation officials, and the League of California Cities, said local agencies need funding for treatment, supervision, and administration; opponents argued the proposal was fiscally reckless, lacked accountability, and overemphasized incarceration. Amendments removed a specific appropriation and shifted funding decisions to the budget process, but the bill was also held pending quorum. Later, the committee heard SB 874, which would require background checks for unlicensed providers of Medi-Cal behavioral health treatment services, create a stakeholder workgroup, and direct DHCS to issue guidance and report on program integrity. Support came from local health plans and behavior analysis providers, who said the bill would improve safety and consistency; there was no opposition testimony. The committee then heard SB 1210, which would extend CalGang oversight and due process protections to local gang databases as well as shared ones. Supporters described privacy abuses, racial disparities, and personal harm from inaccurate gang labels; law enforcement opposition argued the bill would impose CalGang standards on informal investigative files and would significantly change the gang definition. The author said the bill closes a loophole and preserves prior reforms, but no vote was taken. The committee also began hearing SB 1019 on creating a California Cargo Thief Task Force, with strong support from BNSF, trucking, shipping, port, and supply-chain representatives who described organized, multi-jurisdictional cargo theft and rail sabotage; no opposition was heard, and members indicated support, but action was deferred pending quorum. The meeting then moved to SB 1217 on a non-consensual intimate image clearinghouse, with the chair and author describing privacy-related amendments and the bill’s focus on helping survivors remove exploitative images; the transcript cuts off as that presentation began.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Public Safety Committee Apr 21st, 2026

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • Oregon currently has legislation pending similar to our bill.
  • This measure perhaps... ...has legislation pending similar to our bill.
  • In response to these reforms, many agencies simply left CalGang.
  • It reforms... SB 1373 finally fixes a broken system.
  • Legislation will severely jeopardize public safety.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Election Laws Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm

Joint Committee on Election Laws

Transcript Highlights:
  • If you have testimony on multiple pieces of legislation, you should do so at that time.
  • Twenty-one states, including Washington, D.C., have enacted this legislation.
  • Twenty-one states, including Washington, D.C., have enacted this legislation.
  • When we think about common sense gun legislation, when we think about climate justice reform, when we
  • When we think about common sense gun legislation, when we think about climate justice reform, when we
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The House Committee on Election Laws, chaired by Dan Hunt and co-chaired by Senator Keenan, held a hearing on 27 bills with testimony limited to three minutes per speaker. The main policy theme was expanding youth participation in elections. Senator O'Connor testified in support of Senate Bill 526 and House Bill 854, which would allow 17-year-olds to vote in a primary if they turn 18 before the general election. Lawan Allen of Vote 16 USA also supported bills to lower the voting age, arguing that youth voting becomes habitual, can increase turnout more broadly, and is already in place in several cities and states. Robin Chen, the lead petitioner for S. 508 and H. 814, gave extended testimony in favor of children's right to vote, saying children are affected by government decisions and should have a voice. Representative Sousa raised concerns about misinformation and the vulnerability of younger voters, but Chen responded that misinformation affects adults too and pointed to historical civil rights activism by children. Several local election-law measures were also discussed. Cynthia Hogan, Brockton’s elections director, supported a bill requiring candidates for local office to have lived in the city for a year, saying people have sometimes used business addresses or other questionable claims of residency to run for office. Representative Suzy testified in favor of H. 872, a Pembroke home-rule petition to reduce the signature threshold for a recall petition from 20% to 10% of registered voters, describing the change as a response to low-turnout local elections and not aimed at any current official. Representative Gallagher supported two Bridgewater home-rule petitions: one establishing a recall process for elected officials and another creating term limits for town councilors, both of which had been approved by the town council and would still require voter ratification in Bridgewater if adopted by the legislature. The hearing concluded without any bill votes or committee actions beyond accepting testimony. The chair noted that written testimony would continue to be accepted until action is taken on the bills, and the committee adjourned after no further witnesses came forward.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House/Senate Press Conference 5/6/26

Transcript Highlights:
  • Sometimes it can be hard around here to get many legislators to agree, but today is Wednesday.
  • <00:02:25.720> to around here to get many legislators to around here to get many legislators
  • So we're thankful for the time that we've had here with our legislators and the support that they've
  • Bradley, can you talk about the zoning reform stuff? Uh, is that where does that stand?
  • <00:11:32.080> Uh reform stuff? Uh reform stuff?
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: House and Senate capital investment leaders held a public discussion focused primarily on lead service line removal and the need for a new bonding bill. Rep. Fue Lee and Chair Jeff Franzen said Minnesota’s existing state and federal lead-line funds will be exhausted by the 2026 construction season, warning that without action there would be no lead removal program in 2027. They framed the issue as a bipartisan public health and infrastructure priority, emphasizing that no amount of lead is safe and that regular capital investment is needed to keep communities moving forward. Testimony from Raquel Vasquez of St. Paul Regional Water Services, Bradley Peterson of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, and Joel Smith of LiUNA Minnesota and North Dakota described the scale of the problem and the progress made so far. Vasquez said St. Paul’s pilot program is working, with costs coming down and about 6,000 of roughly 26,000 local lead service lines expected to be replaced by the end of the season, but warned that 18,000 to 20,000 would remain without more funding. Peterson said there are about 100,000 known lead service lines statewide and more than 200,000 still being assessed, with replacement costs averaging $10,000 to $15,000 per line. Smith stressed that funding gaps would stall momentum, leave at least 90,000 lead pipes in the ground, and cost the state thousands of union jobs. In response to questions, Sen. Sandy Pappas said she supports including $100 million in appropriation bonds for lead service lines in the Senate bonding proposal, while acknowledging the need is closer to $250 million. House leaders said they were discussing the size and contents of the bonding bill and were considering both general fund cash and appropriation bonds, with affordability for homeowners a key concern. The chairs also discussed broader bonding priorities, including other water, sewer, road, and facility projects, and noted that decisions would depend on whether leadership can reach agreement on a final bonding package before the end of session.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Budget Committee Jun 15th, 2026

Budget

Transcript Highlights:
  • Also, great thanks to the Legislative Analyst's Office over and over again.
  • I think the Legislative Analyst's Office has also made that point.
  • We continue to urge support for the critical education governance reforms.
  • We continue to urge support for the critical education governance reforms.
  • We continue to urge support for the critical education governance reforms.
Keywords: 988, house, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee Apr 22nd, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senator Weber Pierson and the Legislative Black Caucus are working closely this year on separate legislation
  • This is our highest priority piece of legislation. Thank you. Mr.
  • We're just asking for common-sense gun legislation here.
  • And so I commend the author for doing just that with this legislation and many other pieces of legislation
  • All of these fees, as I just mentioned, would be outlawed by this legislation.
Summary: The committee heard several bills, beginning with AB 1521, the Judiciary Committee’s civil law omnibus measure. The bill makes a number of minor, mostly clarifying changes, including repealing obsolete Government Code provisions, allowing juvenile courts to hear petitions to establish records of birth, death, or marriage, requiring notice of probate petitions to the Department of Child Support Services, and correcting typos in existing law. It had no opposition and was moved on a do-pass basis to Appropriations, though it was later placed on call pending additional votes. Members then heard AB 57, which would reserve at least 10% of California’s Home Purchase Assistance Program funds for descendants of formerly enslaved people. The author and supporters framed it as a reparative, race-neutral-by-lineage effort to address historic housing discrimination and the racial wealth gap, while opponents argued it was an unconstitutional racial proxy and should instead be based on individual injury. The bill drew strong support and opposition testimony, was amended, and was approved on a do-pass as amended vote to Appropriations, then placed on call. AB 495, the Family Preparedness Plan Act, was heard next. The bill would expand and standardize caregiving and guardianship tools for families facing immigration-related separation, including broader use of caregiver authorization affidavits, recognition of non-relative extended family caregivers, and a new short-term guardianship process that preserves parental rights. Supporters said it would reduce trauma and help children remain with trusted caregivers; there was no opposition testimony. The committee approved it on a do-pass to Human Services vote and placed it on call. The committee also heard AB 392, which would address non-consensual sharing of sexually explicit media by requiring uploader consent certifications, faster takedown procedures, and civil remedies against uploaders and hosting sites. A survivor testified in support, and members discussed implementation details and possible amendments; the bill was moved on a do-pass as amended basis to Appropriations and placed on call. AB 692, which would prohibit employer “stay-or-pay” debt agreements that require workers to repay training or other costs if they leave or are terminated, also advanced despite opposition from business and industry groups concerned about impacts on signing bonuses and voluntary training programs. It was sent to Appropriations on a do-pass as amended vote and placed on call, along with AB 1234, a wage-claim enforcement bill aimed at reducing Labor Commissioner delays and adding consequences for employers who fail to participate in the process. The committee also heard AB 394, which expands protections for transit workers and allows transit agencies to seek restraining orders against violent riders; it received broad support, some concern about system-wide bans, and was discussed with amendments that preserved judicial discretion.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House/Senate DFL Press Conference 3/19/25

Transcript Highlights:
  • introducing this important legislation introducing this important legislation and<00:15:15.519><
  • So this is not a small addition to this legislation, which is this pop-up timer feature.
  • So this is not a small addition to this legislation, which is this pop-up timer feature.
  • So this is not a small addition to this legislation, which is this pop-up timer feature.
  • So this is not a small addition to this legislation, which is this pop-up timer feature.
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: Rep. Zach Stevenson and Sen. Mann presented Minnesota legislation aimed at requiring warning labels on social media platforms, modeled on the Surgeon General’s recommendation, and adding pop-up notifications every 30 minutes to show users how long they have been on a platform. They argued that social media use is linked to serious mental health harms among youth, including anxiety, depression, sleep disruption, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, and said the bill is part of a broader effort to add guardrails on big tech. They also referenced related Minnesota efforts on deepfakes, child influencers, platform-use disclosures, and a separate effort to remove cell phones from classrooms. The hearing featured emotional testimony from parents Bridget Noring and Tabitha Urbansky, who described losing sons to fentanyl poisoning after drugs were arranged through Snapchat. Both said social media platforms can function as drug markets and that warning labels and other restrictions could help prevent similar tragedies. Eric Mishy of SAVE and the Kids Campaign also testified in support, saying social media is contributing to anxiety, depression, suicide, sextortion, trafficking, bullying, and drug sales, and that companies have not done enough to stop these harms. In response to a question about the pop-up feature, Stevenson said the idea is new in Minnesota but similar to “are you still watching” prompts on streaming services, intended to add friction and interrupt addictive use. He and others said no state had yet enacted similar warning-label laws, though several have proposed them, and they emphasized that regulating technology companies is difficult because of their resources and lobbying power. No vote or formal committee action was taken in the transcript, though the bill was scheduled for a House Commerce Committee hearing the next day.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee Apr 27th, 2026

Revenue and Taxation

Transcript Highlights:
  • My name is Claudia Mildner, Assistant Chief Deputy Legislative Director at the California Department
  • Congress would get involved and would consider legislation.
  • What it tells me is California legislators and our governor are really bad.
  • Because of the FTB reports and the sheer volume of people testifying against this reform.
  • My name is Connie Chan, and I'm the legislative manager for State Treasurer Fiona Ma.
Keywords: 988, house, all
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

CPN-PSM, CPN Public Hearings 02-10-2025

Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • Horton Hawaii, I am here to strongly support SB 179, which seeks to reform the contractor repair act.
  • Horton Hawaii, I am here to strongly support SB 179, which seeks to reform the contractor repair act.
  • Hawaii's housing Supply the reforms Hawaii's housing Supply the reforms ensure<00:11:11.760>
  • We need reforms to stop lawsuit abuse, keep projects moving, and allow builders and homeowners to work
  • We need reforms to stop lawsuit abuse, keep projects moving, and allow builders and homeowners to work
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The joint hearing first took up SB 696, which would create an emergency management office and fund tax credits, grants for low-income taxpayers to fortify homes, shelter development, and staffing. Supporters argued Hawaii needs a dedicated preparedness office and funding before the next hurricane season, while the Tax Foundation said the bill was too vague, especially on who would qualify for the tax credits and under what conditions. The Department of the Attorney General and the insurance division offered comments, and both committees recommended deferral of SB 696. The Commerce and Consumer Protection committee then heard SB 179 on construction defect remedies and the contractor repair act. Builders, Realtors, carpenters, and a mortgage industry witness supported the bill, saying it would reduce abusive litigation, speed repairs, and help housing production and affordability. Homeowner advocates and plaintiff attorneys opposed it, arguing it would weaken consumer protections, shift repair costs to homeowners, and delay or limit legitimate claims. One testifier suggested the Senate focus instead on stronger alternative dispute resolution, and the committee noted 105 written supporters, four opponents, and one comment submission. The committee next heard SB 416 on allowing pets in rental housing, with the Attorney General recommending a non-impairment safeguard because of possible effects on existing contracts. SB 593 on commercial dog breeders drew support from the Hawaii Humane Society and others, with concerns raised that counties would be expected to enforce the new regime without funding. SB 641, creating a tax on low-alcohol-by-volume spirits beverages, drew opposition from the Wine Institute, which said it would create a tax break for one segment and likely reduce state revenue. SB 1048 on online crowdfunding received support from GoFundMe and comments from the Attorney General, with GoFundMe urging changes to reduce burdens on charitable fundraising. SB 1213, allowing businesses to accept service of process by email instead of maintaining a registered agent, drew DCCA comments and opposition from LegalZoom, which warned email service could be unreliable and vulnerable to phishing.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

House Chamber - Wed Mar 18, 2026, 12:00PM HST - Day 29

Hawaii House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Rick Seeman, who are my legislative Rick Seeman, who are my legislative aides,<00:17:52.400>
  • I also want to recognize my legislative aide, Kate Tracy. Please stand.
  • Today, as a legislator representing the community where Mr.
  • Today, as a legislator representing the community where Mr.
  • legislation anyway. legislation anyway.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence Apr 9th, 2025

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:
  • Considering the same legislation that you are considering today.
  • But what I can refer back to is when we had meaningful reform, such as tort reform for medical malpractice
  • If not for tort reform, he would have had to leave Texas.
  • We need safety reforms. Mr.
  • They have a list of needed safety reforms.
US

US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session

US House Floor Proceedings (Monday, April 27, 2026)

US Federal House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • As this enters the legislative process, I urge all of my colleagues to support this common-sense reform
  • My legislation, along with Mr.
  • colleagues to support this legislation. colleagues to support this legislation.
  • sense legislation. And with that, Mr. sense legislation. And with that, Mr.
  • This is important legislation. effort. This is important legislation.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • through the bill, most people don't actually read it in the details, so I want you guys and the legislators
  • can initiate they state legislators can initiate they begin<00:05:10.280> a<00:05:10.440>
  • Fifty-nine percent of Americans trust state legislators more than Congress. Why?
  • Thank you. trust state legislators more than trust state legislators more than Congress<00:08:10.159>
  • The states' legislators call this. This is just a meeting that is actually procedural.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 1295 HD2, relating to clean energy, and then on Senate Concurrent Resolution 140 and Senate Resolution 158, which seek an Article V Convention of States application. HB 1295 drew brief supportive testimony from listed supporters and one witness who said the bill would help future generations and address pollution, runoff, watershed planning, and cleaner energy alternatives. No committee action or vote was taken on the clean energy bill during the portion provided. Most of the hearing focused on SCR 140 and SR 158. Supporters argued the resolutions would let states, including Hawaii, propose constitutional amendments to address federal overreach, fiscal responsibility, deficit spending, term limits, and the balance of power between Washington and the states. Several supporters said state legislators are closer to the people and that Article V gives states a legitimate role in proposing amendments; some also cited debt, executive orders, and the need for long-term reforms. One witness from Convention of States Action said the movement is active nationwide and that the convention process would still require ratification by 38 states. Opponents, including representatives of Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Common Cause, Americans for Democratic Action Hawaii, and individual testifiers, warned there are no real guardrails on a convention and that it could open the door to broader constitutional changes. They said the effort is unnecessary, risky, and potentially harmful to environmental protections, social safety net programs, and civil rights, and argued that federal action is sometimes needed during recessions and emergencies. Committee members asked questions about whether the proposal was merely procedural and whether the states should act without Congress; the discussion ended with continued questioning, and no vote or final committee action is shown in the excerpt.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

AI use prohibited during health insurance prior authorization request review 2/19/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • I think the pre-authorization system could use quite a bit of reform.
  • I think the pre-authorization system could use quite a bit of reform.
  • I think the pre-authorization system could use quite a bit of reform.
  • I think the pre-authorization system could use quite a bit of reform.
  • We have worked a lot on prior reform over the years, most recently advancing legislation in 2024.
Keywords: 1183, house
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

Senate Floor Session 03-17-2026 11:30am

Hawaii Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • to Kalani High School, and they are accompanied today by our office manager, Ruben Sierra, our legislative
  • our office manager, Ruben<00:02:25.280> Sierra,<00:02:26.240> our<00:02:26.800> legislative
  • <00:02:27.520> assistant, Ruben Sierra, our legislative assistant, Ruben Sierra, our legislative
  • to strengthen students' legislative to strengthen students' legislative knowledge<00:04:42.960><
  • <00:09:12.560> We advocating for meaningful reform. We advocating for meaningful reform.