Transcript Highlights:

• McCarthy can refresh my memory, because we see so many bills down here— Maybe Mr.
• McCarthy can refresh my memory, because we see so many bills down here.
• by allowing them to designate all or a portion of their tax refund to a registered charitable, congressionally

Committee: House House Ways & Means Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2290, which would clarify transaction privilege tax sourcing rules for tangible personal property by specifying that servers are not used to determine where an order is received and by defining business location. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill simply codifies existing origin-based treatment for Arizona businesses and provides certainty, while the League of Arizona Cities and Towns and ATRA warned it would shift revenue, create compliance problems, and potentially subject businesses to multiple tax rates depending on distribution or pickup locations. The Department of Revenue said it was neutral, noted a 2023 draft ruling had reflected a legal analysis of the issue but was never finalized, and said the bill would address a real need for clarity. After extensive debate over examples involving feed stores, Target, pizza delivery, and online orders, the committee voted 5-3 with one absent to return HB 2290 with a do pass recommendation. The committee then heard House Bill 2373, which would add a space on the individual income tax return for taxpayers to voluntarily contribute part of a refund to the Veterans Donations Fund or Veterans Service Organization Fund. The sponsor and a veterans policy advocate said the measure would give taxpayers a simple way to support veterans organizations, with examples from Colorado and local veterans projects. The bill passed unanimously, 8-0 with one absent, and was returned with a do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee considered House Bill 2143, a technical PSPRS measure that would limit the 5% ownership cap to publicly traded corporations. PSPRS representatives said the change would align the statute with its intended purpose, reduce unnecessary workarounds and legal costs, and preserve broader investment flexibility while maintaining other risk controls. Members discussed how the cap compares with ASRS and other retirement systems, and the bill was still under discussion at the end of the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Madam Chair and members, House Concurrent Memorial 2008 urges Congress and the EPA to eliminate the federal
• Madam Chair, I move that House Concurrent Memorial 2008 be returned with a due pass recommendation.
• To quote a white paper published by the Congressional Research Service, courts have recognized the NRC's

Committee: House House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee of Reference

Summary: The committee took up several energy, transportation, and land-use bills. HB 2428, dealing with county and ADEQ authority to issue voluntary permits certifying emission reduction credits for mobile and non-road sources, received neutral testimony from ADEQ and support from Maricopa County; the committee adopted the Griffin amendment and passed the bill 10-0 with a due pass recommendation. HB 2145, which expands who may request certain gasoline fuel reformulation actions and is contingent on EPA approval, also passed on a 5-4 vote after brief staff explanation and no amendment. The committee then considered HB 2331, a strike-everything amendment requiring electric utilities to ensure 85% of generating capacity serving retail load comes from “reliable resources” by 2030. Supporters, including the sponsor and Arizona Free Enterprise Club, argued it would protect affordability and grid reliability by favoring dispatchable power; opponents, including the Sierra Club and Rural Arizona Action, said it would effectively favor fossil fuels, raise costs, and limit cleaner resources. The committee adopted the amendment and passed the bill 6-4. HB 2795, which would bar counties from using zoning to block small modular reactors once federal permitting conditions are met, drew strong support from the sponsor and industry advocates who framed it as pro-property-rights and pro-nuclear, and opposition from county, city, and environmental groups who raised preemption, local control, safety, waste, and siting concerns; it passed 6-4. The committee also passed HB 2340, which allows the Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee to evaluate proposed generating facilities along with transmission lines, on a 5-4 vote. HB 2400, an emergency measure to suspend the motor vehicle fuel tax in Areas A and C during part of the year and replace the lost revenue through state highway funding, drew opposition from cities and counties over transportation funding impacts but support from the sponsor and some members focused on gas affordability; the Griffin amendment was adopted and the bill passed 6-4. Finally, HB 2401 was introduced as a requirement for ADEQ to conduct a biennial review of available fuel formulations and their air-quality impacts in Areas A and C, but the transcript ends before testimony or action on that bill is completed.

Transcript Highlights:

• For more than a year, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, led by Senator Klobuchar
• I believe, if memory serves me correct, there was even an executive order on this in the last administration
• It brings back a lot of memories. So, Ms.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• Congressional override of Supreme Court decisions by a supermajority, sunsetting of agencies, Congressional
• override of Supreme Court Congressional override of Supreme Court decisions<01:01:31.880><c> by</c><
• </c> of uh of of agencies Congressional of uh of of agencies Congressional approval<01:01:38.440><c>
• Is that Article Five, the proposal of having uh yes both the Congressional route and the state route?
• Today's congressional overspending is evidence that we need to keep this balanced budget resolution in

Committee: House State-federal Relations and Veterans Affairs

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We went to the Kennedy Memorial. That was a memory that my sisters and I still talk about.
• That was a memory that my sisters and I still talk about, a great time that we had with our family.
• That was a memory that my sisters and I still talk about, a great time that we had with our family.
• At the time, and I'm going from memory, I think it was like 125,000. I could be wrong.
• Back home, I was in aid with Julie Johnson's congressional campaign.

Committee: Senate Education K-16

Summary: The committee heard several education bills, with most of the discussion focused on Senate Bill 1835, Senate Bill 784, Senate Bill 1049, Senate Bill 2942, and Senate Bill 2928. SB 1835 would raise from 5% to 20% the cap on nonresident students who can receive resident tuition and fees through competitive scholarships at certain regional universities in slower-growing workforce development areas, provided the schools have capacity as determined by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. Supporters, including West Texas A&M University, said the bill would help fill underused capacity, attract students who may stay and work in Texas, and support regional workforce needs. SB 784 would strengthen a prior law allowing peace officers’ children to transfer between public school districts for safety reasons by requiring both districts’ approval, making clear that districts of innovation are not exempt, and prohibiting tuition charges. SB 1049 would require districts and open-enrollment charters to excuse students, at a parent’s request, for religious release-time instruction for up to one hour per day and five hours per week; witnesses said the program is constitutional, voluntary, and already operating in other states and some Texas districts. Each of these bills was left pending after testimony, with no public witnesses opposing them. SB 2942 would expand and adjust the state’s adult charter high school pilot program. Senator Creighton said the bill is intended to help the estimated 7 million Texas adults without a high school diploma by removing barriers to expansion, aligning legal protections with ISDs, changing TEA’s disapproval window for expansion amendments to a 30-day period after receipt, and updating funding to reflect part-year attendance. A committee substitute kept the upper enrollment age at 50 and removed a proposed testing change. Testimony from New Heights students and leadership described the program as life-changing, emphasizing that it combines diplomas with career credentials, childcare, transportation, and other supports to help adults stabilize their families and enter better-paying work. TEA witnesses explained the expansion process and said adult charter schools are overseen by the commissioner rather than the SBOE. The committee substitute was adopted, public testimony closed, and the bill was left pending. SB 2928 would set a uniform school start date for public school districts at the third Wednesday in August, while preserving existing district-of-innovation flexibility for current DOI districts and allowing year-round systems to continue. Senator Creighton argued the bill would reduce the patchwork created by DOI exemptions, support students and families, and preserve summer employment and tourism revenue. A committee substitute was adopted. Testimony came largely from tourism, hospitality, and recreation interests, including hotel, water park, zoo, chamber of commerce, and camp representatives, who said later start dates would extend the summer travel season, improve staffing and revenue, and give students more opportunities for summer jobs and camps. Several witnesses cited large economic impacts from tourism and said early school starts reduce August business. Some senators raised concerns about charter schools being excluded and about year-round calendars, but the bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• All eight congressional districts are represented.
• All eight congressional districts.
• All eight congressional districts<01:25:01.760><c> are</c><01:25:01.920><c> represented.
• However, in the past year, we've added 12 board members who represent all congressional districts.
• </c> represent all congressional districts. represent all congressional districts.

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• From the federal perspective, I want to touch on the effects of both congressional and administrative
• As far as congressional actions, HR1, as Deputy Commissioner Woff discussed, was the biggest package
• </c> congressional and administrative action. congressional and administrative action.
• Um, as<01:14:38.080><c> far</c><01:14:38.239><c> as</c><01:14:38.400><c> congressional</c><01:14:38.960
• ><c> actions,</c><01:14:39.760><c> HR1,</c><01:14:40.400><c> as</c> as far as congressional actions,

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• She has since secured $5 million in a congressionally directed allocation, which brings us much closer
• <00:48:23.440><c> directed</c><00:48:23.760><c> allocation</c> congressionally directed allocation congressionally
• We've attempted to go through LRIP, and we've also talked to the congressional delegation federally.
• </c><01:08:06.720><c> delegation</c><01:08:07.920><c> um</c> to the congressional delegation um to the
• congressional delegation um federally.<01:08:08.799><c> Um</c><01:08:09.119><c> we</c><01:08:09.359>

Bills: HF1569 , HF460 , HF850 , HF707 , HF798 , HF852 , HF366 , HF365 , HF836 , HF866 , HF885 , HF959 , HF1196 , HF1788 , HF1349 , HF2272 , HF2652 , HF1251 , HF607

Committee: House Capital Investment

Keywords: transportation, bond issuance, capital investment, infrastructure, road improvements, HF460, Sibley County, Highway 21, County State-Aid Highway, bonding bill, state bonds, bond proceeds fund, transportation grant, infrastructure improvements, sanitary sewer, water main, storm sewer, stormwater, public works, local infrastructure

Transcript Highlights:

• There is at least one physician member from each of the eight congressional districts, and the five public
• members represent five of the eight congressional districts in the state of Minnesota.
• districts and the five congressional districts and the five public<01:20:07.639><c> members</c><01:20
• </c><01:20:09.880><c> districts</c><01:20:10.239><c> in</c><01:20:10.360><c> the</c> eight congressional
• districts in the eight congressional districts in the state<01:20:10.639><c> of</c> state of state of

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• allocated to this purpose to make sure infants, children, and elders don't go hungry while the congressional
• go hungry children, and elders don't go hungry while<00:01:36.400><c> the</c><00:01:36.560><c> congressional
• </c><00:01:37.040><c> majority</c> while the congressional majority while the congressional majority
• I won't talk about the food because I know that somebody else is here, but in terms of Congressional
• District One where we Congressional District One where we were,<02:01:59.360><c> $93</c><02:01:59.840

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Yet congressional appropriations for funding IDEA are currently less than 10%.
• Yet, congressional appropriations for funding IDEA are currently less than 10%.
• Yet, congressional appropriations for funding IDEA are currently less than 10%.
• Yet, congressional appropriations for funding IDEA are currently less than 10%.
• Yet, congressional appropriations for Yet, congressional appropriations for funding<04:20:07.040><c>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The commission meeting focused on reviewing and correcting draft minutes and then working through a draft report on the cost of special education. Members made mostly clerical corrections, including clarifying references to Spalding, fixing acronyms such as LETRS, and cleaning up membership titles and appointee roles to match SB 57. The minutes were approved as amended, with some members abstaining because they were not present at the prior meeting. The chair also noted the commission’s deadline to complete findings and recommendations by July 1 and said the final report must be delivered to legislative leaders, the governor, the state librarian, and others. The main substantive discussion centered on the report’s findings about special education funding. Members agreed the report should emphasize that the commission was created to study the cost of special education and reduce reliance on local property taxes. One draft section described FY24 special education funding as coming from three primary state and federal sources totaling about $152 million, or roughly 15% of annual costs, with the remaining 85% paid by local school districts through property tax revenue, estimated at about $825 million. Members discussed adding historical or longitudinal data to show trends over time, and some suggested attaching charts or tables showing funding over the last 20 to 30 years. A second major topic was demographic data. The draft noted that statewide K-12 enrollment has declined since 2003 while the number and share of students with IEPs has increased. Members questioned whether the data compared like with like, especially given the growth of Education Freedom Accounts and charter school enrollment, and whether the figures included or excluded those students. Several members asked for clearer sourcing from the Department of Education and suggested keeping a list of unresolved questions, including the impact of the shift from ADMA to ADMR and the effect of the EFA program. The discussion ended with agreement to continue refining the report and to gather additional attachments and clarifications before finalizing recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• In front of the Committee on Congressional Redistricting: Select HB5 by Vandever, relating to the regulation

Keywords: 997, house, all

Bills: SF1959 , HF2444 , SF2298 , HF2445 , SF2216 , HF2443 , HF2130 , HF1943 , HF2436 , HF2442

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: veterans, military affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Military Affairs, omnibus veterans bill, appropriations, National Guard, state active service, armory, State Armory Building Commission, veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, county veterans service office, Minnesota GI Bill, Gold Star families, Blue Star families, Secret War in Laos, Hmong veterans, Laos veterans, special guerrilla units

Bills: SF1959 , HF2444 , SF2298 , HF2445 , SF2216 , HF2443 , HF2130 , HF1943 , HF2436 , HF2442

Committee: House Ways and Means

Keywords: veterans, military affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Military Affairs, omnibus veterans bill, appropriations, National Guard, state active service, armory, State Armory Building Commission, veterans homes, veterans cemeteries, county veterans service office, Minnesota GI Bill, Gold Star families, Blue Star families, Secret War in Laos, Hmong veterans, Laos veterans, special guerrilla units

Transcript Highlights:

• The Clerk: House Joint Resolution 105, joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, October 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• of September 2025, five states used some version of the top-two primary system for some or all congressional
• Washington was the first state to adopt the top-two primary system for congressional and state-level
• In congressional races, the real election happens in a low-turnout partisan primary.
• direct voter contact, which frankly, I would rather be sending our folks to New York's contested congressional

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-12, H.503, a proposal to implement all-party state primaries for Massachusetts state and federal elections. The committee opened with procedural remarks explaining Article 48 requirements and then heard first from two subject-matter experts. Professor Costas Panagopoulos of Northeastern University testified that top-two primary systems in other states have produced mixed results: they may modestly increase primary turnout in some cases, but the research does not show a reliable reduction in polarization, and such systems can weaken party gatekeeping, increase strategic behavior, raise campaign spending, and reduce general-election choice for voters whose preferred party is not on the ballot. Katie King of the National Conference of State Legislatures outlined the different primary models used nationwide, explained that Massachusetts currently uses an open-to-unaffiliated primary, and reviewed legal distinctions between blanket primaries and top-two systems; she noted that blanket primaries were struck down by the Supreme Court, while Washington’s top-two system was upheld because it narrows the field rather than nominating party candidates. She also said voter education and administrative preparation would be important if the system changed. The proponents’ panel, led by Danielle Allen of the Coalition for Healthy Democracy, argued that Massachusetts has chronically uncompetitive elections, low turnout, and too many uncontested races, and that all-party primaries would give every voter a meaningful choice in the first round and force candidates to appeal to a broader electorate. Allen said the proposal is designed specifically for Massachusetts and differs from other states by allowing party endorsements to appear on the ballot, which supporters said would preserve useful information while shifting control of the preliminary election from party insiders to voters. Jim Henderson, the coalition’s counsel, said the bill is narrowly tailored to state-level primaries and would amend Chapter 53 to put all voters on equal footing. Other supporters, including Kevin Johnson, Kate Kavanaugh, and Spencer Reynolds, emphasized that the reform could increase competition, reduce polarization, improve participation by independents and underrepresented voters, and create more accountability to the full electorate. Committee members pressed the witnesses on turnout, the practical effect of endorsements, whether the proposal would simply shift party influence to an earlier stage, and whether it could disadvantage minority-party or independent candidates. Senator Fattman repeatedly asked about evidence that turnout would materially increase, while Representative Peisch and others questioned whether requiring or seeking endorsements would create new barriers or pressure candidates to clear the field. Supporters responded that the system would modestly increase primary participation, that the general election would remain the decisive contest, and that endorsements would be optional and handled through party rules. No vote was taken at the hearing; the committee heard testimony and questions only.

Transcript Highlights:

• of September 2025, five states used some version of the top-two primary system for some or all congressional
• Washington was the first state to adopt the top-two primary system for congressional and state-level
• In congressional races, the real election happens in a low-turnout partisan primary.
• direct voter contact, which frankly I would rather be sending our folks to New York's contested congressional

Bills: H5001

Committee: Joint Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions

Keywords: election day registration, voter registration, proof of residency, provisional ballot, party affiliation, 1212, all

Transcript Highlights:

• local level, and then once we reach agreement among the parties here, we have to go through a congressional
• And we are right now working with our congressional delegation to get congressional authorization to
• Every time I get a chance to see our congressional delegation, wherever it is, here in New Mexico or

Committee: House House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• understanding that only impacts dependent students unless there is a change to federal law through congressional
• law</c><00:15:35.440><c> through</c> change to federal law through change to federal law through congressional
• </c> congressional action. congressional action. Senator<00:15:39.199><c> M.

Committee: Senate Higher Education

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The budget reconciliation bill lays out spending targets for congressional committees.
• The Congressional Budget Office has told the committee that considers Medicare and Medicaid that if it
• The Budget Reconciliation Bill is a guide for the congressional committees, but it doesn't have specific
• While funding continues through annual congressional appropriations, there is no long-term guarantee.

Keywords: 988, house, all