Video & Transcript Research : 'transparency in fees'
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MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Transportation Finance and Policy Committee 3/2/26
Transportation Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- amendment in my packet. amendment in my packet.
- all the right things in the in the right all the right things in the in the right order.<00:05:36.639
- In 2024 investigated in recent years.
- the sergeants both in the chambers in the sergeants both in the chambers in the house<00:41:33.599
- hotel room in Baxter. hotel room in Baxter.
Keywords:
pedestrian safety, traffic safety, roadway improvements, nonmotorized transportation, crosswalks, sidewalks, bike lanes, complete streets, Vision Zero, Toward Zero Deaths, MnDOT, Department of Transportation, Department of Public Safety, local road authority, county roads, city streets, tribal transportation, capital improvements, safety design solutions, grant program
Summary:
The committee first approved the minutes from February 25, 2026, and the chair noted the absence of Representative Katie Jones due to the birth of her baby. The chair also acknowledged that the committee would be discussing difficult topics related to the June 14 killing of Mark and Melissa Hortman and Gilbert. The main business began with House File 3418, which Chair Tabke moved for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill, and the committee adopted the A1 author’s amendment. The bill was described as a pedestrian safety measure prompted by a fatal Moorhead crash involving a young boy; it would create an opt-in program for communities to use pre-made traffic safety templates, with the state covering 80% of project costs to speed implementation of measures like lane narrowing, rumble strips, and bollards. A Moorhead testifier said the city could have acted faster with such funding, and members generally supported the goal while raising concerns about overlap with existing Safe Routes to School and active transportation programs, the bill’s fiscal note, and how communities would be selected. MDOT testified that it already supports similar community demonstration projects and has funded about 30 such projects since 2019. HF 3418 was laid over.
The committee then took up House File 3739, a memorial highway bill for Mark and Melissa Hortman. An A1 amendment to shift funding away from trunk highway funds and toward legislative budgets was moved but not adopted after members argued memorial signage should continue to be paid for with private funds, as in prior memorial highway designations. The bill author explained the memorial was intended to honor Melissa Hortman’s service and connection to Highway 610, and members discussed the length of the proposed memorial stretch and whether it should be narrowed to the area she represented. Several members supported the tribute but expressed concern about using public funds and about setting a precedent for future memorial highways. The committee indicated the bill would move on to Ways and Means with other issues still to be worked out.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Standing Committee on Primary and Secondary Education (3-25-26) Upon Adjournment of House
Primary and Secondary Education
Transcript Highlights:
- This began in 2022 as a piece of legislation that the school district challenged, which resulted in a
- Which, in the mind of many on my board and in my community, is an incredibly undemocratic approach to
- in both bodies. in both bodies.
- Got a motion in the second. Got a motion in the second.
- districts in the state. districts in the state.
LA
Bills:
HB29, HB39, HB77, HB153, HB183, HB211, HB263, HB299, HB324, HB519, HB520, HB533, HB538, HB559, HB562, HB805, HB823, HB1004, HB1011, HB1018
Keywords:
insurance fund, retired employees, Ascension Parish, court clerks, premium costs, investment advisory board, HB 39, Act 283, peace officer, law enforcement officer, police certification, citizenship requirement, U.S. citizen, United States citizen, naturalization, lawful permanent resident, green card holder, immigration, public safety, law enforcement hiring
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- in cervical cancer cases reported in Texas.
- In fact, head and... neck cancers in men have surpassed the number of cervical cancer cases in women.
- In fact, in the layout, in the bill, I'm sorry. in the bill itself, it does mention the value of detection
- HB 3976 helps address this challenge by even license renewal fees for those who are teaching in the high
- It waives license renewal fees for faculty who are actively. in the same high-demand field for which
Bills:
HB 1105, HB1527, HB1787, HB1972, HB2081, HB3296, HB3976, HB4071, HB4234, HB4438, HB4701, HB5092, HB5150, HB5180, HB5265, HB5333, HJR203
Keywords:
tuition exemption, paramedics, higher education, laboratory fees, emergency medical services, peace officers, criminal justice, law enforcement, degree programs, public institutions, HB 1787, HPV, human papillomavirus, college health, university health, student health, public health education, prevention program, screening, early detection
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development Apr 30th, 2025
Trade, Workforce & Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- them in.
- Currently, some food service establishments impose mandatory fees or surcharges. surcharges on dine-in
- So in Austin, they may have a convenience fee, they may have a service fee, they may have a health care
- fee.
- , you pay a 3% convenience fee, a 3% healthcare fee, and knows what on a tariff fee.
Bills:
HB1958, HB2031, HB2879, HB3285, HB3995, HB4487, HB4558, HB4560, HB4876, HB4899, HB5212, HB5317, HB5543, HB5567, SB1333
Keywords:
firearm possession, tenant rights, landlord regulations, civil penalties, property code, justified use of force, deadly force, property rights, home defense, smart devices, data privacy, personal data collection, user consent, mobile application, data transparency, HOA, property owners association, property owners' association, Texas Property Code, Chapter 202
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Interim Joint Committee on Economic Development & Workforce Investment (10-23-25)
Transcript Highlights:
- And in general, u in addition to few.
- So now in metals and in manufacturing.
- in Kentucky but if not in Kentucky cases in Kentucky but if not in Kentucky and<00:18:16.320>
other - Um, an in the task force back in 2020.
- He charged the workers a daily fee to ride to and from the job site in vans.
Keywords:
Meeting Start: 00:00:04
Attendance Roll Call: 00:00:29
Approval of Minutes: 00:01:50
Kentucky Buy American Act: 00:02:08
Earn As You Learn: KY Building Trades Apprenticeship: 00:30:42
Worker Misclassification in the Construction Industry: 01:02:00
Investing in KY’s Future Workforce Through the Good Business Initiative: 01:20:44
Adjournment: 01:28:28, 958, all
Summary:
The committee met on October 23, 2025, approved the September minutes, and heard testimony on a proposed “Kentucky by America” procurement preference bill. Representative Patrick Flannery described the concept as giving preference in public construction and public works contracts to iron, steel, aluminum, and other manufactured goods made in the United States, while emphasizing he wanted to avoid excessive taxpayer costs and was open to changes. Chad Connley of the United Steelworkers and Dustin Reinsteller of the Kentucky State AFL-CIO supported the idea, arguing it would strengthen domestic manufacturing, keep tax dollars in the local economy, and support jobs; Connley said the bill would include waivers for items not made domestically and noted Kentucky has opted out of the GPA trade agreement. Mike Buckington of Metals Innovation Initiative, testifying virtually, also supported the concept and said Kentucky’s metals sector has seen significant investment and can supply most construction needs, while stressing supply-chain reliability and national security concerns.
Members generally expressed support but raised questions about implementation. Representative Branscum asked who would grant waivers and how contractors would know the rules during bidding; Flannery said he was open to revising the language and process. Representative Gentry supported the concept but said the bill would likely need editing to avoid harming businesses or markets. Senator Nun suggested aligning the bill’s definition of a U.S. good with industry country-of-origin standards to make compliance easier. Representative KC Carney asked for data on the impact of similar laws in other states, and Connley said he could provide numbers later but did not have them on hand. Senator Boswell supported the concept and asked about the cost threshold for waivers; Connley said the federal standard is a 25% cost increase, while the prior Kentucky version used 10%, and that the threshold is a key detail.
The committee then shifted to an informational presentation on building trade apprenticeships. Eric Elie of the Kentucky State Pipe Trades Association, Nick Brown of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 502, and retired IBEW training director Steve Willinghurst explained how union apprenticeship programs work. Brown described earn-while-you-learn training, with apprentices placed on jobs by signatory contractors and attending classes two nights a week for five years. He outlined the work of plumbers, pipefitters, welders, and HVACR technicians, emphasizing that these trades support construction, industrial facilities, distilleries, and other critical infrastructure. No votes or formal actions were taken on the policy topics beyond approval of the prior minutes.
AZ
Arizona 2026 Regular Session
02/18/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections
Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections
Transcript Highlights:
- Vice Chair, anyone else signed in to speak? We have one more signed in... Mr.
- days to weigh in on this.
- Transparency.
- Access has stepped up its game, but I believe we do need to take in more bidders, more transparency,
- We're in discussion. Mr.
Keywords:
international organizations, government resources, public institutions, Arizona Board of Regents, foreign adversaries, campaign finance, contributions, termination statements, reporting, penalties, electoral processes, healthcare, public benefits, eligibility verification, fraud prevention, Medicaid, SNAP, transparency, accountability, state land
TX
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Committee on Natural Resources Apr 2nd, 2025 at 09:00 am
Natural Resources
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Make America Healthy Again Kentucky Task Force (10-15-25) - reupload
Transcript Highlights:
- down in Floyd County in actually visited down in Floyd County in Prestonburg.<00:08:08.000>
No, forces in DC as well to really hone in forces in DC as well to really hone in on<00:41:16.880>- in central Appalachia in the people in central Appalachia in partnership<00:10:06.959>
with <00- So I mean I but in their in their box.
- >
in packaged in a bag ready to steam in in packaged in a bag ready to steam in in their<00:56 - in central Appalachia in the people in central Appalachia in partnership<00:10:06.959>
Keywords:
This meeting was pulled from back ups and uploaded in it's entirety due to technical issues., 958, all
Summary:
The Make America Healthy Kentucky Task Force met with a quorum, approved the minutes, and then heard a presentation on the state’s “food is medicine” work from Kentucky Hospital Association and Kentucky Department of Agriculture leaders, including Jim Muser, Holly Harris, and Commissioner Jonathan Shell. The chair framed the discussion around personal wellness, injury prevention, and the broader goal of improving health through better sleep, nutrition, and activity, then asked the presenters to describe current initiatives and any policy changes needed.
The witnesses described a partnership linking hospitals and Kentucky farmers to improve health outcomes while supporting rural agriculture. They said the effort has moved beyond the pilot stage and now includes more than 40 hospitals statewide, with programs such as healthier hospital cafeterias, grab-and-go options, farmers markets at hospital sites, subsidized CSA boxes for employees, and medically tailored meals or groceries for patients with chronic conditions. ARH was highlighted as a leading model, with local food procurement, employee wellness efforts, and measurable outcome pilots, including a Russell County Hospital project focused on diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
They also emphasized barriers to scaling the model, including fragmented short-term funding, lack of reimbursement for food-as-medicine programs, and burdensome procurement and testing requirements that can make it difficult for small farmers to participate. The presenters said hospitals are using their own funds or temporary grants to sustain programs and argued that policy changes are needed to simplify sourcing, expand reimbursement pathways, and support clinical measurement of outcomes. No votes or formal actions beyond approving the minutes were taken during the portion provided.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- In our district, we've seen more private water wells drilled than anywhere else in the state over the
- county in the state.
- We've been top 5 once and top 10 twice in fastest-growing counties in the nation.
- In a floods, and fail.
- Water districts in the region have in some cases used arbitrary fee schedules and overly strict construction
Keywords:
SB 612, Texas Water Code, Section 49.2127, conservation and reclamation district, water district, reclamation district, developer fees, pipeline construction, water pipeline, sewer pipeline, associated infrastructure, subdivision infrastructure, cost recovery, fee cap, actual reasonable documented costs, engineering fees, legal fees, inspection fees, infrastructure relocation, utility connections
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- It allows the voters to know who it is that they're voting for, and I believe in true transparency, so
- It provides transparency, allowing courts to see who is funding the cases in their dockets and confirm
- in Florida.
- Having guardrails in place for third-party litigation funding here in Florida, as there are in these
- owner, should they prevail, to seek their legal fees beginning in that pre-suit notification period.
Keywords:
public records, employee protection, Judicial Qualifications Commission, information exemption, confidentiality, chiropractic physician, chiropractor, patient trust funds, escrow, advance payments, prepaid treatment, trust account, fiduciary duty, patient property, Florida Statutes 460.413, Board of Chiropractic Medicine, disciplinary action, commingling of funds, client funds, medical billing
Summary:
The Senate Judiciary Committee met with a quorum present and first postponed SB 532. It then heard and approved SB 620, which requires candidates for federal, state, county, district, judicial, and school board office to disclose any citizenship other than U.S. citizenship. The bill drew one waiver in opposition from Common Cause and passed 8-0. The committee also heard SB 1396 on litigation financing consumer protection. Supporters said it would add transparency, limit funder control over litigation, and require disclosure of foreign entities involved in funding; opponents argued it would create strategic advantages for defendants and could burden plaintiffs. The bill passed 7-2. The committee later approved SB 192, repealing a $1,500 cap on patient funds held in trust by chiropractic physicians, and SB 888, extending limits on indemnity and insurance requirements for design professionals in private contracts; both passed unanimously among those voting.
The committee also approved several Judiciary-related measures. CS/SB 332, as amended, creates a narrow temporary public meetings/public records exemption for certain pre-suit Burt Harris litigation strategy discussions by local governments, and passed 7-0. SB 820, which strengthens quarterly reporting requirements for problem-solving courts, passed 10-0. SB 1500, implementing probate process recommendations to raise small-estate thresholds, clarify access to safe deposit boxes, and improve enforcement in uncontested probate, also passed 10-0. SB 144, creating a public records exemption for personal information of current and former Judicial Qualifications Commission employees and their families due to harassment concerns, passed 9-1.
The committee then approved CS/SB 1224, as amended, making it a third-degree felony to fraudulently obtain possession of a rental unit through false written statements, counterfeit documents, or impersonation; the bill passed 10-0. SB 1000, setting a floor and ceiling for interest rates on law firm trust accounts tied to the Wall Street Journal prime rate, passed 10-0 after testimony from banking and credit union representatives and support from Senate leadership. Finally, CS/SB 694, providing compensation to the descendants of the Groveland Four, was heard with emotional testimony from family members and advocates describing the wrongful convictions, killings, and decades-long effort for redress; an amendment specified equal shares for the four families, and the bill passed 10-0. Several members requested to be recorded as voting in the affirmative on specific bills before the committee adjourned.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- the county in which in the county in which they're situated - i.e., for example, Cameron County, and
- In addition to limiting the traveling HFC, the city also supports the transparency provisions and tenant
- in general.
- Texas, one in Illinois, in 2024.
- HB 323 ensures that Texas remains proactive in maintaining a transparent and legally compliant hiring
Keywords:
HB 21, Texas Tax Code, ad valorem tax, property tax, delinquent taxes, tax delinquency, penalty reduction, interest rate, split payment, installment payment, tax relief, county tax collector, taxing unit, property owner, tax collection, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax increase election, supermajority, 60 percent threshold
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- And as you know, right now, we are in a real problem in regards to gas, in particular from Maricopa County
- I also believe we should ensure stronger transparency and accountability in how these funds are administered
- In Salome, they raised the rates over 237% in Salome, Arizona, which is in Mojave County, and they did
- every county in the state, so we're not just focused on ...represent are in every county in the state
- in every?
Keywords:
air pollution, wildfires, environmental standards, public health, Arizona Revised Statutes, assured water supply, groundwater, commingling, commingled water, water supply, Arizona Department of Water Resources, ADWR, active management area, AMA, subdivision plat, development approval, water rights, municipal provider, private water company, certificate of assured water supply
OK
Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session
Government Oversight REVISED - HB3852 -Added Mar 5th, 2026 at 10:30 am
Government Oversight
Transcript Highlights:
- from 4% to 6%. 4% was set in 2003.
- No, you're in that's public safety.
- If they did not have their 20 in in 1989 and they retired in the next few years, they no longer got the
- something in.
- changes that are later in policy.
Bills:
HB1739, HB1784, HB1889, HB2116, HB2206, HB3625, HB2939, HB3028, HB3265, HB3313, HB3413, HB3414, HB3415, HB3416, HB3417, HB3418, HB3420, HB3588, HB3748, HB3721, HB3852, HB4132, HB4263, HB4303, HB4311, HB4428, HB4429, HB4434
Keywords:
retirement, law enforcement, disability benefits, pension system, Oklahoma, education reform, local control, student outcomes, curriculum changes, school funding, public retirement systems, pension, retirement benefits, cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, inflation adjustment, CPI-U, Consumer Price Index, firefighters pension, police pension
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 3/12/25
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- This proposal will align Minnesota with over 40 states that do not have fee restrictions in excess of
- <00:07:29.759>
restrictions <00:07:30.680>in do not have Fe fee restrictions in do - There's a fee for us to be involved in that here in the state of Minnesota, and so I'd like to make sure
- There's so much lack of transparency in this industry.
- in this industry lack of transparency in this industry that<01:32:50.760>
is <01:32:51.000>
Keywords:
mortgage, qualified mortgage, QM, points and fees, conventional loan, consumer lending, home loan, residential real estate, lender fees, service charge, finance charge, closing costs, Minnesota Statutes 47.20, housing finance, borrower protections, cooperative apartment loan, contract for deed, real estate lending, foreclosure, notice requirements
AL
Alabama 2026 Regular Session
Alabama House Ways and Means General Fund Committee Mar 11th, 2026
Ways and Means General Fund
Transcript Highlights:
- Another fee of $25,000 for the filing of a petition for the facility and that'll be put in the storage
- Another fee of $25,000 for the filing of a petition for the facility and that'll be put in the storage
- Another fee of $25,000 for the filing of a petition for the facility and that'll be put in the storage
- And we've got some language in be a fee of $175,000 be a fee of $175,000 for<00:25:33.360>
the - Chairman, if I may, I just want to be sure to note that we kept the fees that were being charged in there
Keywords:
campus chaplain, chaplain, school chaplain, volunteer chaplain, public schools, public K-12 education, public charter schools, local control, teacher support, student support services, religious volunteer, faith-based support, church-state separation, background check, sex offender registry, school volunteer, education policy, district attorney, compensation, constitutional amendment
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
Hearings to examine the nominations of Jonathan Gould, of Virginia, to be Comptroller of the Currency for a term of five years, Luke Pettit, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Paul Atkins, of Virginia, to be Mar 27th, 2025 at 09:00 am
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- In that time, I advocated for a greater transparency at the agency and emphasized robust cost-benefit
- I really appreciate the conversation that we had in my office. we talked about was transparency.
- Can you promise that as an administrator you will provide the public and Congress transparency in job
- It raises the question of what transparency and investor protection should be in place for private equity
- In fact, we had regulators sit in this room and our other committee hearing room in front.
Keywords:
financial regulations, SEC, Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Transit Administration, nominees, Empowering Main Street in America Act, capital formation, economic growth
Summary:
The committee meeting focused on several nominees within key financial institutions, including discussions surrounding the SEC, the Federal Transit Administration, and the Comptroller of the Currency. Notable dialogue included concerns over regulatory balance, with various members emphasizing a need to streamline regulations to foster innovation while ensuring accountability and safety for investors. The importance of the proposed 'Empowering Main Street in America Act' was highlighted as a means to facilitate access to capital for small businesses, underlining the current administration's approach towards financial regulations.
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- I know many of you in this room, whether it's in this building or helping in campaigns or things like
- or ended up in November.
- of casinos in the area.
- their child in a private school that required at Least $7,500 in tuition.
- Who wins in that formula?
Keywords:
emergency management, severe weather, youth camp, summer camp, overnight camp, day camp, outdoor education, adventure camp, wilderness program, campground safety, tornado preparedness, flooding, flash flood, high winds, hail, lightning, extreme heat, extreme cold, wildfire smoke, evacuation plan
OK
Transcript Highlights:
- I know many of you in this room, whether it's in this building or helping in campaigns or things like
- Need to worry about having to pay the attorney's fees for the Edmond student, in my example.
- But if a family only paid $500 in state taxes, they would get $7,500 in a tax credit.
- Who wins in that formula?
- In this case, whether the child is in the public school already or not in the public school, the evaluation
Keywords:
emergency management, severe weather, youth camp, summer camp, overnight camp, day camp, outdoor education, adventure camp, wilderness program, campground safety, tornado preparedness, flooding, flash flood, high winds, hail, lightning, extreme heat, extreme cold, wildfire smoke, evacuation plan
Summary:
The Rules Committee met to consider a long slate of executive nominations and several bills. All of the nominations received broad support and were advanced to the floor, including Lori Burns to the Redlands Community College Board of Regents, Lisa Daly to the Oklahoma State Credit Union, Juana Ellison to the Forensic Review Board, Haley Frick to the Regional University System of Oklahoma, Michael Hillary to the Wildlife Conservation Commission, Dustin Hillary to the University of Oklahoma Board of Regents, John Holt to the Used Motor Vehicle Dismantler and Manufactured Housing Commission, Brian Sweeney to the Capital Medical Center Improvement and Zoning Commission, and Cale Walker to the USAO Board of Regents. Most nominations passed unanimously; Brian Sweeney’s nomination passed 15-2.
The committee then heard and passed several policy bills. HB 1675 created a severe-weather preparedness framework for youth camps and passed 16-1. HB 3242, the Women’s Safety and Protection Act covering shelters, schools, and higher education, passed 15-2 after questions about enforcement and legal remedies. HB 1739 increased state police pension benefits and employer contributions to help retain officers, passing 16-1. HB 3320 overhauled the sunset review process for boards and commissions and passed 15-2. HB 3047 designated LOFT as the central recipient for legislative reports and passed unanimously, and HB 4434 required the governor or acting governor to notify the next successor before leaving the state, also passing unanimously.
The committee also advanced HB 4432, which would restore the ability to deduct gambling losses against gambling winnings for state income tax purposes; supporters said it would help ordinary taxpayers, while opponents raised fiscal concerns, and it passed 16-1. HB 3705 raised the parental choice tax credit cap from $250 million to $275 million and passed 13-3 after extended debate over school choice, public funding, and reporting. HB 3718 set timelines for school districts to process evaluations tied to the Lindsay Nicole Henry Scholarship program and passed 12-2, with critics arguing it could create a separate track and strain school psychology resources. HJR 1089, which would have sent voters a constitutional convention referendum, was laid over and not voted on. The meeting ended with adjournment after the final vote.