Video & Transcript Research : 'voluntary program'

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TX

Texas 89th 2nd C.S.

Intergovernmental Affairs Apr 15th, 2025

Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • State law allows for collaboration between political subdivisions in a variety of ways and programs.
  • Importantly, this provision of House Bill 1701, they're completely voluntary at the county level.
  • While the agreements this bill would authorize are voluntary on the part of the affected authorities,
  • is a highly competitive program.
  • Um, well, if you look at our capital program, our capital program, you know, it fluctuates from year
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Rules Committee May 6th, 2026

Rules

Transcript Highlights:
  • And so the program, you know, truly is growing.
  • program for the drinking water.
  • also through the irrigated lands program.
  • I'm the program director at Friends of the River.
  • We've invested in programs. Thank you.
Keywords: 987, senate, all
Summary: The committee first handled several governor’s appointments not required to appear, approving Anthony Surich to lead the California Housing Finance Agency, Craig Snelling to the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, Nicholas Mueller to the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Commission, and the referral of bills to committees, each by 4-0 votes. It then heard testimony on the appointment of Jereen DiDamo to the State Water Resources Control Board. DiDamo highlighted priorities including water-use efficiency, SGMA implementation, groundwater recharge, ecosystem restoration, and expanding safe drinking water access, noting the number of Californians without safe drinking water had fallen from 1.6 million to 800,000 since 2019. Senators focused heavily on the safe drinking water program, consolidation of failing systems, funding, domestic wells, SGMA, and the Bay-Delta plan. Supporters praised her practical, collaborative approach and work on drinking water; opponents from environmental and tribal groups argued the board had favored agricultural and urban interests and had not acted quickly enough to protect the Delta and fisheries. The committee ultimately voted 4-0 to advance the appointment to the full Senate. After a brief recess, the committee took up the appointment of Siva Gunda to the California Energy Commission. Gunda said California is managing three major transitions at once—decarbonizing the grid, electrifying transportation and buildings, and winding down petroleum and natural gas—and emphasized planning, transparency, and coordination across agencies and the West. Senators questioned him about Kern Energy and the impact of refinery compliance burdens, the state’s transportation fuels plan, Diablo Canyon, fuel imports, and affordability. Gunda said the Energy Commission has supported exemptions or potential exemptions for small refineries, that current planning assumes Diablo Canyon retires in 2030 without creating reliability problems if new resources continue to come online, and that most new capacity has been storage and solar. He also said California still imports a significant share of crude and refined products, with costs affected by global markets and shipping. The committee approved his appointment 4-0 to move to the full Senate.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Environment committee hears HF1012 3/20/25

Transcript Highlights:
  • But as well as intentioned as these are, they are voluntary, arbitrarily followed, and not enforceable
  • , arbitrarily followed and not voluntary, arbitrarily followed and not enforceable.<00:05:10.240>
  • In 1995, I was hired as the department's first off-highway vehicle program manager.
  • I'm the statewide programs and planning manager for the DNR's Division of Parks and Trails.
  • I'm the statewide programs Laura Price.
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee heard House File 1012, as amended by the A1 amendment, and the author moved the bill to be laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill. The amendment, adopted on a voice vote, changed the timing for public input in trail planning, removed language on decommissioning trails, and combined the measure with another ATV-fee bill. The author said the bill would unify ATV trail signage policy statewide, align statute with DNR best practices, and not affect the forest trail inventory, existing ATV-accessible miles, or hunting exemptions. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including representatives of the Minnesota Public Lands Coalition, tribal officials from the Max Band and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, a retired DNR conservation officer, a retired wildlife manager, and the Minnesota Environmental Quality Board, argued the bill would better protect wetlands, wildlife habitat, and culturally significant areas, improve transparency and tribal consultation, and make trail planning and enforcement more workable. The EQB said the amended bill’s rulemaking timeline was more workable, and the DNR described its existing multi-step trail review and consultation process. Opponents, including ATV Minnesota, county commissioners from northern counties, and a representative of the Minnesota Trappers Association, argued the bill would burden or restrict existing trail systems, increase costs, and threaten tourism and local economies. They said current trail development already involves DNR and local review, and that the bill could reduce access for riders, trappers, and other users. In member questions, the author and a Minnesota Association of Townships representative said the bill was intended to codify DNR best practices and bring local governments into the process earlier, while confirming that hunting exemptions were not removed.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
  • And New Mexico is now working with the Casey Family Program.
  • Remember, they're all voluntary. They're pre-K programs. Program requires a home visit.
  • , and deal with the family infant-toddler program.
  • Some of the programs are able to fund...
  • So we have CASAs without cases, and they are voluntary.
WV
Transcript Highlights:
  • I don't... voluntary manslaughter. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Senator.
  • I'm the Deputy Commissioner over the Office of Policy and Programs for the Bureau for Social Services
  • Is there opportunity for that person, if this becomes law, to plead down to voluntary manslaughter?
  • that down if one of our first responders dies while they're in the service of responding, down to voluntary
  • death, which wouldn't even necessarily mean that it would be somebody that could be convicted of voluntary
Keywords: 994, senate, all
AL

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate County and Municipal Government Committee Mar 18th, 2025

County and Municipal Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • It involves the University of South Alabama, Mobile Bay... ...Mobile Bay, the National Estuary Program
  • We have a voluntary tax that amounts to a voluntary tax we authorized in Huntsville to increase building
  • emulate what Huntsville has done with... ...Alabama to emulate what Huntsville has done with our program
TX

Texas 89th Regular

89th Legislative Session Jun 1st, 2025

Texas House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This is our second time having a fellow from the Powerhouse program. It's a great program.
  • Great program. They worked a great program. That girl is like a dentist. Thank you. Thank you.
  • We provided for a grant program. We also provided for a reimbursement program for each county.
  • That's not necessarily true because, as I understand it, under the ICE program, under the federal program
  • The program works. It works smoothly.
Bills: HCR158, HCR159, HCR160, HCR161, HCR162, HCR163, HCR164, HR174, HR427, HR790, HR810, HR857, HR866, HR882, HR883, HR962, HR966, HR1001, HR1045, HR1085, HR1097, HR1127, HR1138, HR1141, HR1150, HR1152, HR1292, HR1296, HR1304, HR1305, HR1306, HR1308, HR1309, HR1310, HR1311, HR1312, HR1313, HR1315, HR1317, HR1318, HR1320, HR1321, HR1322, HR1323, HR1324, HR1325, HR1327, HR1328, HR1329, HR1330, HR1331, HR1332, HR1333, HR1334, HR1335, HR1338, HR1340, HR1341, HR1342, HR1343, HR1344, HR1345, HR1346, HR1347, HR1348, HR1349, HR1352, HR1353, HR1354, HR1355, HR1358, HR1359, HR1360, HR1361, HR1362, HR1363, HR1364, HR1365, HR1366, HR1368, HR1369, HR1370, HR1380, HR1383, HR1384, HR1385, HR1386, HR1387, HR1388, HR1389, HR1390, HR1392, HR1393, HR1396, HR1397, HR1398, HR1399, HR1400, HR1402, HR1403, HR1404, HR1405, HR1406, HR1407, HR1408, HR1409, HR1410, HR1411, HR1412, HR1413, HR1414, HR1415, HR1417, HR1418, HR1419, HR1420, HR1421, HR1422, HR1424, HR1425, HR1426, HR1427, HR1428, HR1429, HR1430, HR1431, HR1432, HR1433, HR1434, HR1435, HR1436, HR1437, HR1438, HR1440, HR1441, HR1442, HR1443, HR1444, HR1445, HR1447, HR1448, HR1449, HR1450, HR1452, HR1453, HR1454, HR1455, HR1456, HR1458, HR1459, HR1460, HR1461, HR1462, HR1463, HR1464, HR1465, HR1466, HR1467, HR1469, HR1470, HR1471, HR1472, HR1473, HR1475, HR1477, HCR132, HCR154, HR17, HR49, HR170, HR275, HR355, HR356, HR364, HR369, HR672, HR690, HR755, HR756, HR759, HR762, HR763, HR781, HR785, HR848, HR1240, HR1265, HR1303, HR1307, HR1314, HR1316, HR1319, HR1326, HR1336, HR1337, HR1350, HR1351, HR1367, HR1371, HR1372, HR1373, HR1374, HR1375, HR1376, HR1377, HR1378, HR1379, HR1382, HR1391, HR1395, HR1451, HR1457, HR1468, HR1474, HR1476, SB1637, SB2878, HB2885, HB2017, HB5246, SB8, SB2308, SB1405, HB 119, SB3059, SB15, SB568, SB2900, HB3642, HB3909, SB268, HB493, SB2217, HB2516, SB650, HB2963, SB1610, HB705, SB2972, SB1540, HB40, SB2753, SB1660, SB2024, HB1545, HB46
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Committee on Transportation - 02/18/26

Transportation

Transcript Highlights:
  • I believe mostly for existing programs.
  • <00:41:29.040> and um scheduled, their money programmed and um scheduled, their money programmed
  • AMC is a voluntary association representing all of Minnesota's 87 counties.
  • AMC is a voluntary association Counties.
  • It's a voluntary Association.
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

LBT Public Hearing 01-28-2026

Labor and Technology

Transcript Highlights:
  • those funds to offset the cost for employees so they don't pay the full cost of administering the program
  • pay the full cost of administering don't pay the full cost of administering the<00:07:26.639> program
  • non-traditional workforce portable health care plan benefit pilot program that offers high-deductible
  • implement a five-year voluntarial implement a five-year voluntarial voluntary<00:46:58.400> non-traditional
  • <00:46:59.119> workforce voluntary non-traditional workforce voluntary non-traditional workforce
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The committee first heard SB 2122, which would tie public service flexible spending account contribution and carryover limits to the annual IRS cafeteria plan caps. DEER supported the bill and said it would help the state keep pace with federal limits, though it suggested deleting the words “inflation/adjusted” and “for that calendar year” as unnecessary. HGA and UPW strongly supported the measure, saying state limits lag the IRS amounts and that higher caps would help employees offset rising health care costs. In response to questions, DEER said the plan has a fund balance of about $1.6 million but noted some risk if employees leave before contributing enough to cover reimbursements. The unions agreed to DEER’s suggested wording change so long as the bill still clearly required future increases to track the IRS limits. The committee then took up SB 2116, which would create a confidential process in the Attorney General’s office for anonymous complaints against public employees, with complaints forwarded to the appropriate agency and annual reporting required. DLIR and the Attorney General opposed the bill. The AG’s office said anonymous complaints cannot truly be guaranteed to remain anonymous, that existing laws already provide confidential complaint processes in specific areas, and that the AG would effectively be only a repository without meaningful authority over how complaints are handled. HGA and UPW supported the bill, saying it would begin a conversation about protecting complainants while discouraging frivolous complaints. In questions, senators raised concerns about how anonymous complaints would be investigated and whether the AG could serve as an appeal body; the AG said the proposal would likely require broader changes to existing complaint laws. The committee also heard SB 218, which would amend the amount a disbursing officer may deduct from an employee’s wages to repay indebtedness to the state. HGA and UPW supported the bill, saying it would create a more lenient repayment process for employees who were overpaid and should not have to repay large amounts in a single pay period. UPW said the bill would eliminate a provision allowing recovery of debts of $1,000 or less in one pay period, which it described as problematic for members. The Libertarian Party of Hawaii was listed in opposition, and additional comments were submitted by the state controller and the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly. Finally, the committee heard SB 2114, which would repeal the prohibition on certain exempt employees grieving suspensions or discharges and allow bargaining-unit members to grieve disciplinary actions. DHRD and the City and County of Honolulu opposed the bill, arguing exempt employees are at-will employees who serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and already have other legal remedies for discrimination or harassment; they also said the issue is a negotiable matter under collective bargaining agreements. HGA and UPW supported the bill, saying exempt positions have increased in number and that just-cause protections would improve recruitment and retention. Senators questioned how unions would represent exempt employees and whether the bill would change the at-will nature of those positions; no vote or final action was taken on the measures in the portion of the meeting provided.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Local Government Committee Jul 1st, 2026

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • JPAs function because participation is voluntary.
  • And if you take away that voluntary framework, you undermine our collaboration.
  • Using the planning support tool would be entirely voluntary.
  • Using the planning support tool would be entirely voluntary.
  • The bill is entirely voluntary.
Keywords: 988, house, all
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Taxes Committee hearing on HF1066 3/6/25

Transcript Highlights:
  • So this is just a small slice of the work that SWCDs do across the state on a voluntary basis with willing
  • that s swcds do across the state<00:05:11.919> on<00:05:12.080> a<00:05:12.240> voluntary
  • basis with willing state on a voluntary basis with willing land<00:05:14.520> donors<00:05:15.360
  • And you said two words that, to me, are a big deal: it is voluntary with willing landowners.
  • Thank you very much. voluntary with willing land owners to me voluntary with willing land owners to me
Keywords: 919, house, all
Summary: The committee took up House File 1066, a Soil and Water Conservation District funding bill. An author’s amendment, 66A1, was offered and adopted by voice vote, putting the bill in the form preferred by the author. The amendment and bill discussion centered on changing the state aid level for SWCDs, with the bill as amended described as eliminating a scheduled reduction in funding and instead increasing the annual appropriation to $22 million. Representative Ryer explained that SWCDs are long-standing, locally elected conservation entities that help preserve soil and water quality, support farmers and homeowners, and do not have levy authority. He said the funding level was based on a bottom-up assessment of district needs and was intended to help districts maintain staffing and address local problems early. Sheila Vany of the Minnesota Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts testified in support, saying the aid has been a major improvement in SWCD funding and describing district work such as lakeshore stabilization, cover crops, nutrient management, lake monitoring, rain gardens, and irrigation guidance. The chair noted the voluntary nature of SWCD work with willing landowners and expressed support for the bill. No opposition testimony was presented, and no department testimony was offered. The committee then laid House File 1066, as amended, over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill.
MN

Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session

Committee on Education Finance - 02/04/25

Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • meals is a voluntary program so MD can't meals is a voluntary program so MD can't mandate<01:37:
  • But again, it's a voluntary program.
  • But again, it's a voluntary program.
  • But again, it's a voluntary program.
  • but again it's a voluntary program meals but again it's a voluntary program uh<01:42:44.880> you
Keywords: 1187, senate, all
Summary: The committee met to hear a Minnesota Department of Education presentation on federal education funding and the potential effects of federal actions on those dollars. Chair Kunesh framed the discussion around concerns about threats to the U.S. Department of Education and noted that federal funds make up about 10% of Minnesota’s education budget, or roughly $1.4 billion. Senator Lang pushed back, emphasizing that 90% of school funding comes from state and local sources and urging the committee to focus on state mandates and how to pay for them. New member Senator Clark introduced himself and said he would teach ethics or running if he were a teacher. Department staff explained that federal education dollars are divided between entitlement/formula funds and competitive/discretionary grants. They said Minnesota receives federal money through established systems and that the department is seeking clarity about how federal changes might affect the flow of funds, oversight, and program administration. They also outlined Minnesota’s legislative review process for federal funds, which includes several pathways such as the governor’s biennial budget, supplemental budget submissions, legislative advisory committee review, and expedited review processes when needed. The presentation then focused on ESEA Title funding, especially Title I. Staff said Title I is one of the largest federal education programs in Minnesota, with about $200 million in current funding, and supports 476 local education agencies. They described how funds are allocated through Minnesota’s North Star accountability system and Compass support structure, based on measures such as poverty, graduation rates, and state assessment performance. Examples of allowable supports included professional development, attendance initiatives, reading curriculum, training, and peer coaching. Senators asked whether executive action could affect these funds and whether the money flows directly to districts or through the state; staff responded that they would avoid speculation and would continue explaining the different funding streams and oversight structure.
HI

Hawaii 2025 Regular Session

CPN-EIG, CPN-HHS, CPN DEFER Public Hearings 02-11-2025

Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:
  • First, the renewable tariff has to be voluntary.
  • First, the renewable tariff has to be voluntary.
  • First, the renewable tariff has to be voluntary.
  • First, the renewable tariff has to be voluntary.
  • First, the renewable tariff has to be voluntary.
Keywords: 912, senate, all
Summary: The joint Senate hearing focused primarily on SB 1201, a wildfire measure that would create a wildfire recovery fund and allow securitization for electric utilities. Hawaiian Electric strongly supported the bill, saying it would help protect customers, property owners, insurers, and the broader economy from future catastrophic wildfire liability while improving the utility’s credit profile and lowering financing costs. Support also came from DCCA Consumer Advocacy, the Attorney General’s office on written comments, Ulupono Initiative, Clearway Energy Group, IBEW Local 1260, Par Hawaii, KIUC, the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi, Plus Power, and numerous organizations and individuals. Opponents or commenters raised concerns about the liability cap, victim compensation process, and fund structure, including the Hawaiʻi Association for Justice, the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters, and the Hawaiʻi Insurance Council; Henry Curtis of Life of the Land supported the concept of a fund but questioned the catastrophe threshold and whether the fund would be empty without a prudency finding. Much of the discussion centered on whether the proposed fund would actually help restore Hawaiian Electric to investment grade, with senators comparing the proposal to California’s wildfire fund. Hawaiian Electric said the bill was only one part of a broader process, alongside physical risk reduction and settlement finalization, and argued that without the bill the utility would not regain investment grade. Senators also questioned the proposed $1 billion fund size, the fairness of ratepayer contributions versus shareholder contributions, and whether customers should pay for consulting and administrative costs; Hawaiian Electric said its proposed amendment would remove those consulting-related charges. The company also said the fund would accrue interest and, if unused, could be returned to customers, and that there would be replenishment and supplemental contribution mechanisms if the fund were exhausted. The Attorney General’s office said it still had further amendments to discuss, and the departments had not yet resolved where the fund should reside administratively, though Hawaiian Electric said it believed DCCA was the appropriate place but was open to alternatives. KIUC requested two amendments. No vote or final committee action was taken during the hearing, and the measure remained under discussion with questions and proposed amendments still outstanding.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • ensure that students are receiving the benefits. of a high-quality, purposeful physical education program
  • I carried the 39-week bill. ...It said you really can't do voluntary c-sections before the 39th week
  • Association is dedicated to increasing consumer transparency, as evidenced by our Facts Up Front program
  • , a voluntary program that presents key nutritional information on the front of packaging, facilitating
  • The Consumer Brands Association believes that changes to the school meals program should occur at the
Bills: SB 25, SB25, SB314
NM

New Mexico 2025 Regular Session

Senate - Finance Mar 1st, 2025

Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • Business Assistance Program and the State Trigger Program for collaborating with the national labs on
  • Support our graduate medical education program.
  • We are looking at other programs. We are only interested in voluntary transactions.
  • We have a program in the lower Rio Grande with some voluntary following to help reduce water use in a
  • You say it's voluntary, but how does that work?
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee Apr 29th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • essentially the program again.
  • into this program before it starts.
  • A lot has been learned since 2008, when the program ended.
  • working on the Local Housing Trust Fund program as well.
  • It's actually a return to the original rules of the program.
Summary: The committee heard testimony on several bills related to reproductive access, child safety online, immigration enforcement in schools, health privacy, location data, digital provenance, reparations, and age assurance. AB 54 would protect the medication abortion supply chain and shield providers and others from liability; AB 1137 would strengthen reporting and enforcement tools for child sexual abuse material on social media; AB 49 would limit ICE activity at California public schools; AB 82 would expand privacy and safety protections for gender-affirming care patients and providers; AB 1355 would restrict the collection, use, and sale of precise location data; AB 853 would expand provenance requirements for AI-generated and authentic content; AB 62 would create a pathway for restitution for racially biased eminent domain takings; and AB 1043 would create a device-based age assurance framework for online services. Supporters generally framed the bills as necessary responses to current harms: reproductive rights advocates emphasized California’s role as a safe haven; child safety witnesses described the persistence and re-victimization caused by CSAM online; immigrant rights and education advocates said schools should remain safe from immigration enforcement; health and LGBTQ+ advocates stressed privacy and safety risks tied to tracking and harassment; privacy and consumer groups backed limits on location data and stronger provenance tools; and reparations advocates said AB 62 would help address historic injustices. Opposition came from family policy, tech, business, law enforcement, and industry groups, who raised concerns about safety claims, constitutional issues, implementation burdens, transparency, law enforcement access, and the need to preserve existing privacy frameworks and voluntary standards. The committee members largely expressed support for the policy goals while noting implementation concerns on some measures. Several members asked for or were offered coauthor status on bills. AB 1137, AB 54, AB 49, AB 82, AB 1355, AB 853, and AB 62 all received do-pass votes to Appropriations, with some members voting no or not voting on certain bills. AB 1355 and AB 853 were advanced with amendments or ongoing work promised with opponents, and AB 1043 was presented with discussion of possible amendments on parental consent and age assurance details, though the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Environmental Regulation May 8th, 2025

Environmental Regulation

Transcript Highlights:
  • Voluntary programs like Operation Clean Sweep are simply not effective enough to address the scale of
  • So, it's a big problem, and it's something we need to address. we can do about, but the voluntary program
  • However, a lot of what's in the voluntary program, the industry recognizes and sets as a goal for themselves
  • programs.
  • The permitting program. Our program does not go out and take samples and do testing.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • House Bill 4359 proposes a practical and balanced accountability program by subjecting two school districts
  • My district hosts the Euro Joint Pilot Training Program, which brings members of allied foreign militaries
  • It does not eliminate or diminish recapture; it just offers a voluntary mechanism for early payment that
  • It maintains the state's funding structure while offering a voluntary incentive. ...that benefits both
  • Members, the bill relates to establishing the Applied Sciences Pathway Program.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Neonicotinoid insecticide and insecticide-treated seed ban 3/11/26

Minnesota House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • In 2025, Quebec expanded the program to all insecticide seed treatments, consistent with the research
  • :02:27.440> Quebec<00:02:27.840> expanded<00:02:28.319> the<00:02:28.480> program
  • <00:02:28.720> to<00:02:28.959> all 2025, Quebec expanded the program to all 2025,
  • Quebec expanded the program to all insecticide<00:02:29.920> seed<00:02:30.160> treatments,
  • currently as it as implement the program currently as it as it's<00:41:15.680> written.
Keywords: 1183, house