Transcript Highlights:

• I think it should be a phone-free space at school.
• I guess we want our schools to be a vape-free zone. Is that correct?
• We do want them to be a vape-free zone.
• And I'm here to express my opposition to HB 6.
• That's how the free market works and you should let it.

Bills: HB6, HB27, HB 123, HB210, HB213, HB222, HB610, HB 1085, HB1481, HB6, HB27, HB123, HB210, HB213, HB222

Keywords: mental health, telehealth, public schools, discipline management, behavioral interventions, financial literacy, high school education, curriculum requirements, economics, personal finance, HB 123, kindergarten readiness, early literacy, early numeracy, reading screening, math screening, foundational literacy, foundational numeracy, dyslexia screening, reading intervention

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 608 addresses this directly and ensures that school-based health centers can distribute free condoms
• Some high schools already provide free condoms. SB 608.
• And to address that, we've expressed to the author's office, the chair, and the committee staff that
• So that's the concern that I was trying to express. But I'll pause there and see if I...
• And I'm glad that you expressed it in a way that I can understand it.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So the law requires that we give away free copies to the law libraries and the courts.
• was during COVID, you know, around the pandemic, we did check with the folks that were getting the free
• a longstanding practice of our committee that the Statute Law Committee members have wanted those free
• We are getting fuel surcharges from our vendor, which is Worldwide Express, which uses UPS.
• We actually have two clients that get free copies of that. Oh, really? And they're libraries.

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In this bill, are you expressing an opinion, or are you expressing no opinion as you express no opinion
• In this bill, are you expressing an opinion, or are you expressing no opinion as you express no opinion
• This bill is Are you expressing no opinion, as you express no opinion in Senate Bill 31?
• So it's expressing an opinion? Yes.
• And expressing state policy. Was a yes or no question? What was the question?

Summary: The Senate began with a quorum call, prayer, approval of the previous journal, and messages from the House, then moved through several recognitions and resolutions honoring visiting groups. Members adopted resolutions recognizing the Texas chapters of Blue Star Mothers of America, Fine Arts Education Day, Donate Life Texas Day, Baha’i Capitol Day, County Government Day, Jack County Day, Crockett County Day, and a recognition of Navy Petty Officer Simon Urbanik for service during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The chamber also heard remarks from visiting doctors, students, county officials, and community groups, with multiple senators speaking in support of military families, arts education, organ donation, and local government service. The Senate then took up Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2779, relating to the allocation and use of certain hotel occupancy tax revenues. Senator Birdwell said the bill would stop local governments from conditioning HOT funds on race- or class-based priorities and would require Galveston to transfer the full state rebate for beach cleaning and maintenance to its park board. After questions, the Senate suspended the rules, passed the bill to engrossment, suspended the three-day rule, and finally passed it, though the final vote showed significant opposition. The chamber also passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2322, described as a cleanup bill removing the compelling-factor test for dispatchable generation from the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation Act. A major debate centered on Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2253, which would phase out uncertified teachers in core classrooms and strengthen educator certification requirements. Senator Creighton argued the bill responds to a teacher pipeline crisis, adds parent notification, creates multiple preparation pathways, and provides financial incentives for certification; Senator West and Senator Sparks pressed for rural flexibility and implementation details. An amendment from Senator Gutierrez to add a teacher student-loan repayment program failed on a 11-17 vote, while other technical and fiscal amendments were adopted. The bill then passed to engrossment, the three-day rule was suspended, and it was finally passed. The Senate also passed Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2371, updating skimmer-reporting rules to cover electronic terminals beyond fuel pumps, and Committee Substitute Senate Bill 2351, relating to the construction of certain concrete plants under a standard permit. Senate Bill 619, a conscience-protection bill for health care workers, drew extended questioning from Senators Cook, Eckhardt, and Menendez about patient abandonment, scope, and whether it could allow refusals of legal services such as vaccines, antibiotics, contraception, or personal care; despite those concerns, the Senate suspended the rules and passed the bill to engrossment. Finally, the chamber began consideration of Committee Substitute Senate Bill 1169, which would allow public entities to form public utility agencies to cooperate on water and wastewater projects without eminent domain or cross-collateralization, with Senator Hinojosa explaining it as a tool for small and rural communities facing utility infrastructure problems.

Transcript Highlights:

• But this morning I downloaded and ran a free and open-source GitHub repository thing to build a local
• That's not what people in a free country— that's not how we live.
• That's not what people in a free country— that's not how we live.
• <00:59:25.920> from education, and public life free from education, and public life free from
• The Ark Minnesota would like to express The Ark Minnesota would like to express its<01:04:56.240

Bills: HF3661, HF2380, HF3468, HF3483

Keywords: facial recognition, privacy, government surveillance, public safety, data protection, civil liberties, disability rights, discrimination, accommodations, employment, housing, public services, education, civil action, failure to render aid, damages, Minnesota Statutes, legal liability, trespass, civil immigration enforcement

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from February 24 and February 26. It then took up House File 3661, a bill originally authored by Representative Gomez and presented by Representative Feist, which would ban government use of facial recognition technology and be re-referred to the Public Safety Finance and Policy Committee. The committee adopted the A1 amendment, described as a technical amendment based on House Research recommendations, before hearing testimony on the bill. Representative Feist said the bill is aimed at preventing serious privacy and civil-liberties harms, including secretive surveillance, racial and gender bias, and the lack of statewide rules governing government use of facial recognition. Supportive testimony came from Chad Marlo of the ACLU, who argued the issue is bipartisan, the technology has accuracy problems, and government use is expanding against vulnerable groups. Chris Wayland of Restore the Fourth Minnesota also supported a ban, emphasizing the inability to opt out of facial recognition and the lack of standards, disclosure, and community input. Rich Newmeister urged stronger transparency measures, including agency policies and public notice in buildings using the technology. Major Spencer Baky of the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office opposed an outright ban, saying facial recognition is used only as an investigative lead, not for positive identification or real-time surveillance, and that results are corroborated before use. He said the office has used the tool in hundreds of investigations and supports a statutory framework with safeguards instead of a ban. In member discussion, Representative Hudson argued a blanket ban was too broad and suggested a more targeted evidentiary approach, while Representative Moller and Representative Kurr expressed concern about misuse and the federal government's use of the technology. Representative Durant asked whether there was a current Minnesota problem and whether stakeholders and law enforcement had been involved in drafting the bill. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion provided, beyond adoption of the amendment and the committee’s continued consideration of HF 3661.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we really see this resolution as important in terms of expressing the Legislature's interest in getting
• So we really we see this resolution is really important in terms of expressing the legislators interested
• If you guys have more feedback, feel free to continue to provide that as we move to conference.
• At this time, there's not a plan to increase the cost to families for free school meals.
• I just wanted to express my strong support for SB 2756 HD1.

Bills: HCR93, HCR14, HR85

Keywords: image-based sexual abuse, working group, gender-based violence, Hawaii Commission on the Status of Women, prevention efforts, survivor protections, new technologies, legal reform, HCR14, House Concurrent Resolution, perpetual easement, non-exclusive easement, state submerged lands, submerged lands, shoreline easement, drainage outfall, stormwater outfall, lagoon outfall, pipelines, Kahala Hotel & Resort

Transcript Highlights:

• We need infrastructure to, not be free.
• The ability to control your health is freeing. Access to personal transportation is freeing.
• Access to personal freeing.
• And bicycles are an repairs is freeing.
• I which is essential to a free society.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Please feel free to submit written testimony through the position portal on the committee's website.
• Please feel free to submit written testimony through the position portal on the committee's website.
• I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the Senator for authoring this bill.
• At the same time, for folks who express concerns, we have to also think about folks who've lost their
• Given the insurance challenges, many providers have expressed interest in alternative risk financing

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But if you're not committing a crime, you're free to live your life, and nobody should be able to come
• Our colleagues have shared a few words, and I'd like to express my own feelings towards this bill.
• And so I'm supporting the bill, but I wanted to express my concerns on the record.
• complete all terms and conditions imposed by the court, including monetary obligations, and remain free
• On behalf of the Arizona Legislature, we express our sincere regret at his passing and extend our deepest

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to express my gratitude for hearing this bill. Um, guys, this is just so much, so important.
• Those are the ones that we should really throw the book at, and I want to express my gratitude.
• So I want to express my gratitude with that, I close. Thank you both of you.
• So, uh, drug-free zones if it happens within 300 ft of a school block, you know, different things like
• Trafficking victims by letting their predators go free.

Transcript Highlights:

• We strongly support H.J.R. 3 for many of the reasons already expressed this morning. Thank you.
• behalf of our nearly 9,000 supporters across New Mexico, I thank you for your time in allowing me to express
• PNM is making great strides toward carbon-free energy as part of our goals and requirements of the Energy
• Today, we are 72% carbon-free and will be 75% by the end of 2026.
• It is an expression of the value of our environment.

Transcript Highlights:

• First, Madam Secretary, let me express my sincere appreciation. This is such a great honor.
• Despite what some may say, doing so takes dedication to a greater cause than oneself, and I want to express
• ours, will be open all the time, and he welcomes each and every one of you to come to his office and express
• institutions is about the freedom to speak, the freedom to disagree, but ultimately, to work together, free
• It'll be the first step in dismantling public education, robbing our kids of a free education.

Transcript Highlights:

• systems everybody has a right to be free systems everybody has a right to be free from<01:18:41.960
• <02:24:13.600> Choice parents parents then with free Choice parents parents then with free
• the winning strategy allowing the free the winning strategy allowing the free market<02:54:46.800
• State and uh stop getting this free State and uh stop getting this free public<04:04:14.399>
• We look at free and reduced lunch at 150% of the federal poverty rate.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The hearing focused on House Bill 115-FN, which would remove the income cap from New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account eligibility rules. Representative Valerie McDonnell, the bill’s sponsor, said the measure is intended to fund students rather than systems and to expand educational choice regardless of income or zip code. She described the change as a small statutory edit but argued it would have significant benefits, including helping families afford alternative education settings and testing costs such as AP exams. She also cited testimony from families who said EFAs helped children with special needs or difficult circumstances, and she argued the program is popular and cost-effective. Committee members questioned McDonnell about the bill’s fiscal impact and administration. One member asked whether removing the income cap would extend vouchers to families above the statewide median income and whether the change could cost more than $100 million annually; McDonnell said she did not agree with that estimate and pointed to Arizona as a comparison. Representative Wendy Thomas asked whether the bill should require stronger data-sharing from the Children’s Scholarship Fund, which administers the program, so the Department of Education and taxpayers could better track spending; McDonnell said the program already uses ClassWallet and regulated expenditures, and that the question was better directed to the administrator. Several members testified in opposition. Representative Wendy Thomas said the bill would increase costs for public schools, raise local property taxes, and worsen oversight problems. Representative Heath Howard argued the proposal would function as a subsidy for wealthy families already paying private tuition and said public education and special education should be funded first. Representative Megan Murray also opposed the bill, emphasizing the lack of a legal reporting requirement for EFA spending and the need for transparency, accountability, and attention to special education needs. Representative Sam Farrington supported expansion, sharing a constituent story about a student who left public school after harassment and benefited from private school placement. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So, feel free to certainly introduce her.
• I think the first thing that we want to do is express our deep appreciation for the 2026 appropriations
• present our budget request and, more importantly, on behalf of the OsSm employees and students, we Express

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just expressing what my preference is as one member of the other opposite legislative chamber from
• So that's that I'm<00:18:10.960> just<00:18:11.120> expressing<00:18:11.600> what
• ><00:18:12.000> my<00:18:12.240> preference I'm just expressing what my preference I'm
• just expressing what my preference is<00:18:12.960> as<00:18:13.440> uh<00:18:13.600>
• So courts would be free to place weight.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to start off this hearing first by expressing my sincere gratitude to everybody here at KPBS and
• If you have any kind of opening thoughts, feel free to come up here and maybe use this microphone.
• We provided content during the day that was available for free in people’s homes at a time when they
• Another thing: we also host over 40 free movie screenings a year, again bringing people together.
• Our public broadcasters provide their quality content to everyone for free.

Summary: The hearing focused on the impact of the federal rescission of Corporation for Public Broadcasting funding on California public media, with Assemblymember Chris Ward and Senator Akilah Weber Pierson framing public media as essential civic infrastructure for education, local news, arts, emergency alerts, and underserved communities. Local officials from San Diego and La Mesa voiced support, emphasizing public media’s role in trusted information, children’s programming, and community arts access. Panelists from PBS SoCal, KCRW, Rebuild Local News, NPR, KPBS, Radio Bilingüe, and KVPR described significant budget losses, layoffs, reduced programming, and threats to rural and specialized services. They highlighted impacts on children’s educational content, local journalism, arts coverage, science and documentary production, and emergency alert systems. Several speakers noted that smaller stations in rural or low-broadband areas are especially vulnerable, while larger stations are also cutting staff and delaying projects. They also discussed possible responses such as shared services, cost reductions, philanthropy, and state support, while warning that one-time bridge funding is not a long-term fix. Committee members asked about operational changes, alternative revenue sources, the role of state programs, and whether public pressure could restore federal funding. Witnesses said the loss is already being felt, that restoration appears unlikely in the near term, and that any state support should be structured to protect editorial independence and provide stable, timely funding. The hearing concluded with a shift to labor and production testimony and then to station-specific testimony from KPBS, Radio Bilingüe, and KVPR, followed by public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:11:47.600> their<00:11:47.839> religious<00:11:48.399> convictions expressing
• their religious convictions expressing their religious convictions to<00:11:49.279> that.
• Furthermore, I think that they should not have access to continuing education that's provided for free
• continuing education that's<00:31:18.960> provided<00:31:19.360> for<00:31:19.600> free
• that's provided for free. that's provided for free.

Keywords: Convene 00:00:00 Senate Message 00:05:32 Calendar/2nd Readings 00:06:28 Orders of the Day 00:08:06 HB 459 00:08:16 HB 293 00:10:44 HB 379 00:20:16 HB 526 00:24:16 HB 264 00:39:32 HB 448 00:43:37 Motions, Petitions, and Communications 00:46:17 Introduction of New Bills and Resolutions 00:57:26 Recess for ConC/Rules Meeting 00:58:27 ConC/Rules Report 01:01:42 Floor Amendments 01:03:00 Adjournment 01:03:24, 958, all

Summary: The House convened, prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance were offered, a quorum was established, absent members were excused, and the journal was approved. The chamber also received notice that the Senate had passed several bills and requested concurrence. Members then reviewed a slate of second-reading measures, including bills on child care, gubernatorial transitions, campaign finance, local public agency transactions, unclaimed property, state contracts, mental health treatment, economic development, aviation task force continuation, and a child care study resolution. The House then took up and passed House Bill 459 on licensed occupations. The sponsor said the bill would require licensure boards to collect workforce data and would recognize certain out-of-state marriage and family therapists who meet Kentucky standards. House Bill 293 on vehicle wheels was also passed after its sponsor explained it was narrowed to require rubber on heavier horse-drawn equipment to reduce road damage while exempting lighter personal transportation; it passed 80-8. House Bill 379 on postsecondary education passed unanimously after a committee substitute added provisions on governing board attendance, collection of enrollment-related debts by the Department of Revenue, formalizing Northern Kentucky University’s role with the Center for Mathematics, and allowing preliminary presidential evaluations in closed session. House Bill 526 on members of the bar generated the most debate. A floor amendment was adopted to add explanatory language and delay the bill’s effective date until July 1, 2027. Supporters argued the bill would make bar membership voluntary while preserving Supreme Court authority over admission and discipline; opponents warned it would weaken attorney oversight and public protection. A motion to suspend the rules to consider another amendment failed 22-? against the required 51 votes. The bill then passed 70-21. House Bill 264 on theft by deception was also advanced after a floor amendment added vacant lots to the property covered by the bill’s fraud presumption; the sponsor said it targets real estate scams involving property listed without authority.

Transcript Highlights:

• despite its increasingly common use by foreign governments to prevent the exercise of human rights and free
• expression by diaspora... ...the exercise of human rights and free expression by diaspora and exile
• SB 509 will ensure that California remains a safe haven for free speech and dissent by providing law
• and as someone who's benefited greatly from California's social safety net services, I wanted to express
• If not, they should be free to choose a provider that meets their needs and their budgets.

Summary: The Assembly convened, initially lacked a quorum, then returned to session with prayer, pledge, and a moment of silence for Charlie Kirk following news of his shooting. Members then handled a series of procedural motions, including suspending rules, moving several bills to the inactive file, re-referring bills to committees, and authorizing committee meetings. The chamber also observed adjournments in memory for several individuals, including Ermilo Don Rodas, John Burton, Nina Chomsky, and Barbara “Bobby” Samperey. On the floor file, members considered and passed a long list of Senate bills, largely on bipartisan or unanimous votes. Topics included consumer protection and transparency for self-storage contracts (SB 709), adoption jurisdiction (SB 450), privacy and name/image protections (SB 683), an audit of the February 2025 bar exam (SB 47), data broker transparency (SB 361), used-car buyer protections (SB 76), state parks land acquisition streamlining (SB 630), cemetery work group deadlines (SB 777), financial enforcement authority (SB 825), utility outage reporting and reliability planning (SB 292), vital records confidentiality (SB 313), health care coverage and hormone therapy access (SB 418), workplace outreach (SB 578), Holocaust and genocide education (SB 472), county jail treatment for misdemeanor incompetency cases (SB 820), and AI companion chatbot safeguards for minors and self-harm risks (SB 243). Most measures passed with little or no opposition, though SB 578 drew sharp debate over the workplace outreach program and its funding. The Assembly also took up concurrence items and approved numerous Assembly bills with Senate amendments. These included transparency in legislative nondisclosure agreements (AB 1370), affordable faculty/staff housing provisions at community colleges (AB 648), tribal youth foster care reforms (AB 1378), EV charger payment regulations (AB 1423), technical Political Reform Act changes (AB 1511), diacritical marks on vital records (AB 64), reproductive health protections with urgency (AB 260), union and collective bargaining protections (AB 288), bench trial statement-of-decision streamlining (AB 515), agricultural land stewardship (AB 524), geothermal exploratory project rules (AB 527), Medi-Cal field medicine changes (AB 543), tobacco-related provisions (AB 573), social media platform rules (AB 656), state parks transaction reporting (AB 679), professional licensing changes (AB 742), and child care staffing and assistant teacher pathways with urgency (AB 753). Votes were generally strong, with several measures passing unanimously or near-unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just want free things.
• I just want free<00:17:09.839> things.
• :17:12.000> truly<00:17:12.480> do<00:17:12.799> want<00:17:13.760> to free
• Um, people truly do want to free things.
• that for example in a homeless expressed that for example in a homeless shelter<00:30:38.320> um<

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: A joint informational briefing of the House Committee on Labor and the Senate Committee on Labor and Technology was held on August 19, 2025, to hear testimony on the Office of Community Services’ proposed Community Services Block Grant state plan for federal fiscal years 2026 and 2027. Ray Domingo of OCS explained that the plan is intended to maintain federal CSBG funding and focuses on compliance monitoring, coordination among community action agencies and state agencies, and strengthening partnerships. He also reviewed the program structure, noting that Hawaii’s four CAAs serve low-income residents, that the state must pass through at least 90% of the grant to CAAs, and that Hawaii received about $3.8 million in FFY 2025, with allocations to HCAP, Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council, Kauai Economic Opportunity, and Maui Economic Opportunity. He said statewide CAAs reported serving 40,980 individuals in FFY 2024. Representatives from each CAA testified in support of the plan and described how CSBG functions as flexible “glue” funding that supports overhead, fills gaps, and helps leverage other public and private resources. HCAP’s Robert Piper said the grant helps sustain its broad service network, including Head Start, job training, weatherization, shelter, food assistance, and energy programs, and emphasized its tripartite board structure and annual service to about 20,000 people. Hawaii County’s Chad Hosigal highlighted support for senior farmers market coupons, Meals on Wheels, and transportation services. Kauai Economic Opportunity’s Mabel Fujiuchi said the agency fully supports the plan and described CSBG as nucleus funding that helps support shelter, Meals on Wheels, weatherization, mediation, and other services, including assistance for homeless families and special needs items such as dentures and hearing aids. Maui Economic Opportunity’s Gay Sabonga described CSBG’s role in disaster response after the 2023 wildfires, including shelter transitions, document recovery, housing and utility assistance, bridge grants for small businesses, youth prevention programs, and employment services. Committee members asked about the stability of future federal funding, the frequency of federal assessments, and how satisfaction scores in the state plan were measured. OCS said federal funding information has been mixed and uncertain, that communication with federal partners has been limited and informal, and that the federal assessment website appears outdated; staff said assessments are done every two years. On the satisfaction metric, OCS said the score was 92 out of 100 and believed it reflected participant responses, though they offered to follow up with more detail. No votes or formal actions were taken at the informational briefing.

Transcript Highlights:

• I first want to express my appreciation that this bill is coming back to us with no delay in the GHD
• She lives in a car-free household, like 33% of the households in the Loring Park neighborhood.
• <00:29:10.240> my Uh I first want to express my Uh I first want to express my appreciation
• /c><00:29:36.000> lives<00:29:36.159> in<00:29:36.240> a<00:29:36.399> car-free
• Um she lives in a car-free ne at Target.

Keywords: 1183, house