Video & Transcript Research : 'disability determination'

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HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

WAL Public Hearing - Thu Feb 19, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Water & Land

Transcript Highlights:
  • We object to taking away that right to self-determination.
  • Thank you. away that right to self-determination. away that right to self-determination.
  • So, on its surface, it looks like a reasonable ask to determine if there's agriculture, but a lot of
  • So, on its surface, it looks like a reasonable ask to determine if there's agriculture, but a lot of
  • has uh determined um farmable acreage. has uh determined um farmable acreage.
Summary: The committee on Water and Land met on February 19, 2026, and the chair opened by emphasizing strict time limits and that all bills would be deferred if the agenda was not completed before the noon session. The first major measure discussed was HB 1739 HD1, which would preempt county land-use authority in transit-oriented development areas. The Department of Planning supported the bill, saying it could promote state-funded TOD and infrastructure, while the city and county’s position was raised in questioning. Unite Here Local 5 opposed the bill, arguing it would strip counties of self-determination, disrupt state-county policy collaboration, and remove a check on unrestrained development. Committee members pressed the supporters on whether the bill was really about higher density and whether it would override local zoning and sustainability concerns. The committee then heard testimony on HB 1741 HD1, a housing bill described by supporters as reducing inclusionary housing mandates and increasing supply. Grassroots Institute of Hawaii argued affordability mandates reduce overall housing production and raise market-rate prices, while a Zoom testifier said the bill would improve housing stability, health, and community outcomes for working families, kupuna, and young residents. Members asked about the bill’s needs assessment and who would conduct it, with a witness saying the counties would likely contract it out but that the bill did not clearly specify the reviewer. HB 2668 HD1, dealing with water heating systems, drew testimony from the Hawaii State Energy Office and industry representatives. Supporters generally backed adding heat pumps to the law, but one solar-water-heater industry witness asked for amendments to remove or extend the current 15-year statutory life limit for solar water heaters and to update outdated standards and variance rules. A Kauaʻi Climate Action Coalition witness opposed the existing solar-only structure, arguing heat pump water heaters are cheaper, align with climate goals, and should be allowed without a variance. The Energy Office said the current law already allows variances in some cases, suggested adding high-efficiency heat pump water heaters to the exemption, and said the 15-year figure may be too short, with 18 years mentioned as a possible alternative. The committee also briefly moved through several other bills, including HB 2606 HD1 on off-site construction and HB 2362 HD1 on housing, with no notable testimony or action recorded in the excerpt.
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama House Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Jan 28th, 2026

Military and Veterans Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • So all this does is bring it down so that a disabled veteran is 50% disabled or greater can apply and
  • the country... ...to make Alabama the most military-friendly state in the country, and how do we determine
  • Now I am a disabled veteran and then eventually I was hired and I utilize a similar practice.
  • veteran, I was still wasn't a disabled veteran, I was still in<00:03:52.799> the<00:03:52.959
  • Now I am a disabled and so I rated 10%.
Bills: HB292, HB307, SB33, HB292, HB307, SB33
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • those who are permanently uh disabled those who are permanently uh disabled from<00:08:24.000>
  • <00:09:38.399> officer be 25% of pay to the disabled officer be 25% of pay to the disabled
  • <00:18:01.440> and this is an insurance for disability and this is an insurance for disability
  • > it<00:37:26.800> because unable to determine a cost on it because unable to determine
  • And additionally, the actuary determined And additionally, the actuary determined contribution<00
Summary: The committee heard testimony from Rep. Ashley Tackett Laferty on a bill to extend minimum line-of-duty hazardous duty retirement benefits to certain CERS and KERS non-hazardous members who are injured in the line of duty and cannot return to that work. She used a video and examples from Eastern Kentucky first responders, including a deputy who lost a leg and an emergency management director who lost an eye, to argue that some injured officers and responders fall through the cracks because their employers did not elect hazardous-duty coverage. She said the proposal would provide 25% of pay to the disabled officer, plus 10% for dependent children and minimal health benefits, and noted estimated actuarial costs of about $2.9 million for CERS and $0.542 million for KERS, funded through small employer-rate increases. Members asked how far back the bill would reach, how many people might qualify, and whether the benefit would apply only to active employees or also to past injuries. Laferty said the bill would include a five-year window for recent situations and could potentially cover a total of 3,333 positions statewide that could be certified as hazardous, though benefits would only apply if the person was injured in the line of duty and disabled from returning to that work. Questions also focused on whether a non-hazardous employee could qualify if injured in a hazardous situation; Laferty said yes, if the position could be certified as hazardous, but only for the bill’s minimum benefits. Rep. Josh Calloway and others noted that local governments choose whether to pay the higher hazardous-duty contribution rates, which they said often drives the coverage decision. The committee then heard Rep. Daniel Gberg present a separate bill revising school leave rules so teachers and school employees may use accumulated sick leave to observe religious holidays not on the school calendar, with a required personal statement and advance notice. He said the change would address a longstanding inconsistency for teachers who observe non-Christian holidays and currently may have to choose between unpaid leave or improperly using sick days, and he said prior concerns about retirement service credit and maternity leave were reduced by other policy changes. The discussion ended without a vote, with members indicating they had the relevant materials and that the bill would be revisited later.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Workforce Apr 29th, 2025

S/C on Workforce

Transcript Highlights:
  • included that also gave political subdivisions the option of forming their own networks if they determined
  • Opportunity youth are more likely to live in poverty, to have a disability, to have dropped out of high
  • This bill addresses the federal tax burden on wage replacement disability benefits when an employer does
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Workforce Mar 25th, 2025

S/C on Workforce

Transcript Highlights:
  • I'm a senior policy analyst for the Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities.
  • training in the disability community for employment.
  • Employment is high, and within the disability community there are a number of employment resources that
  • However, there are eligibility limitations that cause certain people with disabilities to not quite qualify
  • Employment is high, and within the disability community there are a number of employment resources that
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy Committee 3/4/25

Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:
  • <00:54:21.240> were 1,655 individuals of disabilities were 1,655 individuals of disabilities
  • , and 65% of our employees are people with disabilities.
  • , and 65% of our employees are people with disabilities.
  • , and 65% of our employees are people with disabilities.
  • , and 65% of our employees are people with disabilities.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, House Bill 1995 providing that people who are blind or deaf can receive a disabled parking permit
  • Um, first up we have Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities. Fukuzawa in opposition.
  • Um, first up we have Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities.
  • Chair, committee members, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities...
  • Disability and Communication Access Board. Hi.
Summary: The House Committee on Health heard testimony on a series of bills related to public health, pharmacy regulation, disability access, and health care infrastructure. HB 1535, creating an income tax credit for automated external defibrillator installations, drew support from the Department of Health, tax department comments, and public testimony emphasizing AED access in community and transit settings. HB 1765, requiring safety warnings for spear fishing gear, received comments from DLNR and strong support from a free-diving safety advocate who described blackout risks and argued for point-of-sale warnings. HB 1549, which would repeal the law prohibiting drug paraphernalia, drew mixed testimony: the Department of Health, the Public Defender, and harm-reduction advocates supported repeal as a public health measure, while HPD and a county prosecutor opposed it, warning it could encourage drug use and create public safety issues. The committee also heard HB 1550, which would exclude drug testing products from the definition of drug paraphernalia. The Department of Health and harm-reduction advocates supported the bill, saying drug checking tools save lives and help prevent overdoses, while one written opponent was noted. HB 1995, allowing people who are blind or deaf to receive disabled parking permits, drew opposition from the State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Disability and Communication Access Board, and other opponents, while a few written supporters were also noted. HB 1671, allowing licensed dental hygienists to place interim therapeutic restorations in public health settings, received support from the Department of Health and several oral health organizations, with the Board of Dentistry offering comments. HB 1643, establishing a framework for pharmacy audits and record retrieval, prompted the most extended discussion. The Board of Pharmacy and independent pharmacy representatives supported the bill as a needed framework to limit burdensome audits and protect patient care, while HMSA raised concerns about possible conflicts with upcoming federal PBM reforms and potential unintended consequences. Committee members questioned both sides about timing and workload, and supporters argued the bill was needed now to protect rural and independent pharmacies. Finally, HB 1978, appropriating funds for a new outpatient care center in North Kona, received strong support from Hawaii Health Systems Corporation, Queen’s Health Systems, the Kona-Kohala Chamber, and others, who described it as a long-term investment in West Hawaii’s health care capacity and economy. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Elections Apr 30th, 2025

Elections

Transcript Highlights:
  • With disabilities.
  • Please, to be very quick, Disability Rights Texas supports this bill.
  • Of course, a disabled voter can always vote by mail if they can't enter.
  • Approximately 30% were related to disability access issues.
  • not treat people with disabilities differently than everybody else simply because they have a disability
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Health and Human Services REVISED Feb 9th, 2026 at 02:00 pm

Health and Human Services

AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/17/2026 - House Commerce

Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • An aging parent, somebody with a disability, something like that.
  • It allows the applicant to request an individualized determination that demonstrates the basis for the
  • the validity of the individualized determination or the exaction.
  • this phrase, the adverse impact that's used, that's part of the report in section, subsection B, determine
  • that they must already prepare a takings impact report that seems to mimic the individualized determination
Summary: The committee heard Senate Bill 1566, which would prohibit municipalities and counties from maliciously delaying licensing, permits, or approvals, authorize the Attorney General to enforce the prohibition, and provide expedited judicial review. The sponsor said the bill is intended to address affordability by preventing intentional government delays in housing and business approvals. County representatives supported the goal but opposed the bill as drafted, arguing the county language differed from the city/town language and could sweep in ordinary processing delays or incomplete applications; the sponsor said a floor amendment would fix the county language. Testimony from supporters described long permit and parcel-number delays and argued the bill would give applicants a remedy against intentional obstruction. The committee recommended the bill do pass by a 7-3 vote, with one present and one absent. The committee then heard Senate Bill 1787, which would require written notice for exactions imposed on development projects, allow individualized determinations, and create an appeal path including judicial review. The sponsor framed it as a takings and affordability measure to stop unrelated or excessive exactions from being imposed on housing projects. Cities and counties opposed the bill, saying existing law already requires nexus and proportionality, already provides an appeal process, and that the bill would create a duplicative Attorney General review and confusion, especially for mixed-use projects. Supporters, including Pacific Legal Foundation, the Home Builders Association, and a homeowner who described a costly infrastructure demand on her property, argued the bill would curb extortionate demands and make the process fairer. The committee passed the bill 7-2 with one present and one absent. Senate Bill 1478, a liquor-regulation cleanup bill, was also heard and received broad support. The measure makes technical changes to liquor statutes, including clarifying interim permits, repealing a federal food-safety preemption provision, and updating definitions such as cider and production terminology. Industry stakeholders said the bill was the product of months of consensus work and mostly technical corrections. It passed unanimously, 10-0. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1431, which would limit municipal control over home design features and prohibit certain required shared amenities that would necessitate HOA maintenance. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill would reduce housing costs by preventing subjective aesthetic mandates and unnecessary HOA-driven requirements, while opponents from cities and neighborhood groups warned it would undermine local control, crime-prevention design standards, neighborhood character, and quality. Home builders and property-rights advocates said the bill would expand consumer choice and reduce costs, while critics argued it could lead to lower-quality housing and remove local recourse. The bill was not reported out in the portion provided, and testimony continued with no final vote shown.
AL

Alabama 2026 1st Special Session

Alabama Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee Jan 28th, 2026

Finance and Taxation Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • requirements that DCM review and inspect exempt projects for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
  • 00:36:19.599> with compliance with the Americans with compliance with the Americans with Disability
  • Act and for fire safety and Disability Act and for fire safety and life<00:36:23.839> safety<
  • > Act<00:36:43.520> that<00:36:43.760> that<00:36:44.160> we American Disabilities
  • Act that that we American Disabilities Act that that we don't<00:36:44.560> have<00:36:44.720
Bills: HB245, SB16, SB59, SB62, SB79, SB88