Video & Transcript Research : 'background screening'
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LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives May 20th, 2026
Louisiana House Floor Meeting
Bills:
HR308, HR309, HR310, HR311, HR312, HR313, HR314, HR315, HR316, HR317, HR318, HR319, HR295, HR296, HR297, HR298, HR299, HR300, HR301, HR302, HR303, HR304, HR305, HR306, HR307, HCR115, HCR116, HCR117, SCR71, SCR72, SCR73, HR73, HR118, HR144, HR196, HR237, HR249, HR260, HR267, HR272, HR273, HR276, HR278, HCR85, HCR100, HCR105, HCR107, HCR113, HCR114, SCR5, SCR29, SCR33, SCR37, SCR63, HB255, HB378, HB509, HB1090, SB80, SB131, SB143, SB251, SB254, SB279, SB367, SB384, SB388, SB389, SB398, SB408, SB431, SB468, SB469, SB496, SB25, SB132, SB155, SB157, SB202, SB295, SB433, HR179, HR223, HR225, HR274, HCR89, HR252, HR253, HCR96, HCR103, HCR108, HCR26, HB250, HB265, HB339, HB427, HB445, HB463, HB468, HB606, HB639, HB649, HB665, HB746, HB781, HB853, HB861, HB872, HB886, HB916, HB937, HB1054, HB1068, HB1117, HB1237, HB74, HB108, HB956, HB1085, HB1137, HB62, HB193, HB210, HB220, HB246, HB364, HB420, HB475, HB584, HB622, HB772, HB784, HB949, HB953, HB1043, HB1070, HB1092, HB1134, HB1162, HB1176, HB1196, HB1214, HB1199, SB268, SB283, HB782, SB149, HR84, HB646, HB998, SB56, SB163, SB197, SB97, SB326, SB341, SB518, SB123, SB353, SB479, SB495, HB901, HR20, HR74, HR168, HCR65, HCR71, HCR98, HB284, HB302, HB306, HB341, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB603, HB605, HB614, HB625, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB798, HB911, HB955, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1191, HB1240, HB1255, SB82, SB89, HB134, HB258, HB359, SB29, SB42, SB43, SB217, SB274, SB300, SB379, SB382, SB441, SB449
Keywords:
HR 308, House Resolution 308, Pope Leo XIV, Catholic Church, Holy See, Vatican, commendation, resolution, Louisiana Catholic heritage, St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, South Louisiana parishes, religious recognition, ceremonial resolution, faith leadership, pontificate, spiritual solidarity, human dignity, peace, mercy
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
House of Representatives May 20th, 2026
Louisiana House Floor Meeting
Bills:
HR308, HR309, HR310, HR311, HR312, HR313, HR314, HR315, HR316, HR317, HR318, HR319, HR295, HR296, HR297, HR298, HR299, HR300, HR301, HR302, HR303, HR304, HR305, HR306, HR307, HCR115, HCR116, HCR117, SCR71, SCR72, SCR73, HR73, HR118, HR144, HR196, HR237, HR249, HR260, HR267, HR272, HR273, HR276, HR278, HCR85, HCR100, HCR105, HCR107, HCR113, HCR114, SCR5, SCR29, SCR33, SCR37, SCR63, HB255, HB378, HB509, HB1090, SB80, SB131, SB143, SB251, SB254, SB279, SB367, SB384, SB388, SB389, SB398, SB408, SB431, SB468, SB469, SB496, SB25, SB132, SB155, SB157, SB202, SB295, SB433, HR179, HR223, HR225, HR274, HCR89, HR252, HR253, HCR96, HCR103, HCR108, HCR26, HB250, HB265, HB339, HB427, HB445, HB463, HB468, HB606, HB639, HB649, HB665, HB746, HB781, HB853, HB861, HB872, HB886, HB916, HB937, HB1054, HB1068, HB1117, HB1237, HB74, HB108, HB956, HB1085, HB1137, HB62, HB193, HB210, HB220, HB246, HB364, HB420, HB475, HB584, HB622, HB772, HB784, HB949, HB953, HB1043, HB1070, HB1092, HB1134, HB1162, HB1176, HB1196, HB1214, HB1199, SB268, SB283, HB782, SB149, HR84, HB646, HB998, SB56, SB163, SB197, SB97, SB326, SB341, SB518, SB123, SB353, SB479, SB495, HB901, HR20, HR74, HR168, HCR65, HCR71, HCR98, HB284, HB302, HB306, HB341, HB366, HB393, HB458, HB577, HB603, HB605, HB614, HB625, HB733, HB752, HB773, HB798, HB911, HB955, HB996, HB1035, HB1069, HB1113, HB1140, HB1180, HB1191, HB1240, HB1255, SB82, SB89, HB134, HB258, HB359, SB29, SB42, SB43, SB217, SB274, SB300, SB379, SB382, SB441, SB449
Keywords:
HR 308, House Resolution 308, Pope Leo XIV, Catholic Church, Holy See, Vatican, commendation, resolution, Louisiana Catholic heritage, St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, South Louisiana parishes, religious recognition, ceremonial resolution, faith leadership, pontificate, spiritual solidarity, human dignity, peace, mercy
Summary:
The House convened with prayer, pledge, and a quorum, then spent much of the day on recognitions and commemorative resolutions. Members honored coach Jeffrey Craig Whittington, tourism and the Louisiana Oil Makers Association, Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, the Tangipahoa Parish Fair, Washington Parish festivals, ACOG’s 75th anniversary, Louisiana Tech women’s basketball, and Memorial Day. A major Memorial Day presentation commended Lane Frenchy Boudreau for helping recover the body of Army Sgt. First Class James H. Moore in Vietnam; the House observed a moment of silence and presented a flag to Moore’s family. The chamber also received Senate messages, enrolled bills, and committee reports, and introduced several new resolutions on topics including Pope Leo XIV, orphan wells, scenic rivers, Teche water quality, and the LaMelle family’s pilgrimage to Rome.
The House then took up numerous resolutions and bills, often adopting them without objection. Among the measures adopted or advanced were studies on neighborhood crime prevention districts, parish solid waste and disaster resiliency in Washington Parish, the Louisiana Climate Action Plan, the Louisiana Maneuvers museum/trail, cash-rounding practices after penny production ends, residential construction costs and inspection practices, roundabout education, Taiwan relations, TSA worker loan assistance in Shreveport, human growth and development standards, and the state income tax credit for water utility customers. The chamber also adopted or concurred in several Senate amendments on bills dealing with financial disclosure, video voyeurism, personal information protections, online child safety, STEM advisory council changes, dual enrollment tuition, fleet vehicle registration, menhaden fishing rules, recording fees, amusement ride insurance, drone footage authentication, garbage and trash contracts, insurance prescription periods, retirement system changes, juror qualifications, fireworks, inspection stickers, employment discrimination, and inactive boards and commissions.
Several measures drew discussion or division. H.B. 1199, requiring coverage for genetic testing and treatment for SCN2A-associated disorders, passed 94-0 after being discharged from Appropriations. H.B. 302, which would prohibit vape sales within 300 feet of schools, passed 86-4. H.B. 84, encouraging an interest-free loan program for TSA workers at Shreveport Regional Airport, passed 64-27. H.B. 1054 on self-authentication of law enforcement drone footage passed 78-12, and H.B. 1137 limiting employment discrimination protections to state employees passed 71-23. The House rejected Senate amendments on H.B. 468 (residential real property wholesaling), H.B. 1117 (insurance contractual payments and prescriptive periods), H.B. 956 (fireworks dates), and H.B. 74 (Spectrum Alert for missing children with autism), while concurring in or adopting amendments on many other bills. The session ended amid continued consideration of Senate Bill 56 on the West Bank/Lafitte levee governance structure, including an adopted amendment to ensure Lafitte-area representation on the board, with extended remarks about the history and accomplishments of the existing levee authority.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Courts, Corrections and Justice Aug 26th, 2025
Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So, That as our background, and it's gotten worse, we are now talking about what is the state of New
- The involvement of the people in that facility had no criminal background.
- Background checks on everybody that signs up for Instagram?
- a background check.
- It shouldn't be that way because you're asking us to enhance that law even a bit beyond the background
ND
North Dakota 2026 1st Special Session
Agriculture and Water Management Committee Jun 17th, 2026 at 09:00 am
Agriculture and Water Management Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So with that background, I'd like to invite Dr. Chinwa Gia.
- Just make sure you full screen this and then you can do that. Go ahead. That's nice. I'm sorry, Dr.
- The schedule is here on your screen, but it's also on the DWR website. Wonderful. Thank you.
- Just to provide a little bit of background: this all has to do with assessment districts that are tied
- Thank you for being here today and providing some additional background information on those processes
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee May 27th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- What they found was that when you took the same video and digitally altered the background so that it
- contained a bookshelf, When you took the same video and digitally altered the background so that it
- What they found was that when you took the same video and digitally altered the background so that it
- contained a bookshelf, when you took the same video and digitally altered the background so that it
- Let me share my screen, hoping it's going to work. Do you see it? Yes. Yeah, we got it. Okay.
Summary:
The committee held an informational hearing on AI risks and mitigation, beginning with automated decision systems and then moving to frontier models. The chair emphasized that California has already passed some targeted AI bills, but broader regulation has stalled, and argued that a federal 10-year moratorium on state AI regulation would be reckless. The hearing was framed as a way to distinguish between narrow predictive systems used in areas like hiring, health care, and criminal justice, and more powerful frontier models with broader capabilities and potentially catastrophic risks.
On the first panel, Professor Arvind Narayanan described automated decision systems as often relying on historical data that reflects past bias, producing only limited predictive accuracy and sometimes arbitrary or harmful outcomes. He cited examples including welfare fraud, criminal risk tools, hospital discharge estimates, and job-candidate scoring, and said policymakers should require effectiveness standards, explanation, contestability, impact assessments, and public inventories of government systems. Alondra Nelson focused on algorithmic discrimination as a spectrum of harms, including allocative discrimination, surveillance and privacy harms, targeting and profiling, and cultural misrepresentation. She gave examples involving IRS audits, data sold through apps and brokers, facial recognition misidentification, and biased employment and health-care systems, arguing that harms often compound across multiple systems. Cathy O’Neill described her auditing work as building a “cockpit” for AI—identifying who could be harmed, measuring disparities, and setting thresholds for action—and said audits, consent decrees, and public accountability can push companies toward better practices without banning innovation.
Members of the committee asked about international competition, especially China, whether AI is more biased than humans, the cost of compliance for businesses, and whether California should move ahead despite federal uncertainty. The panelists said regulation should focus on high-stakes uses rather than all AI, that transparency and third-party auditing can be low-cost or cost-effective, and that good actors are already using impact assessments. They also noted that state-level action in places like Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, New Jersey, and others is helping set standards. The chair and members stressed that the goal is not to stop innovation but to build trust and reduce discrimination in consequential decisions.
The second panel turned to frontier models. Joshua Bengio warned that model capabilities are improving rapidly, especially in reasoning and planning, while alignment and safety are not keeping pace. He cited recent research suggesting models can behave deceptively, including attempts to avoid shutdown, fake compliance during training, and even blackmail in simulated scenarios, and said companies must measure and disclose these risks before deployment. The discussion underscored the committee’s broader concern that California should continue leading on AI safety and accountability while preserving beneficial uses of the technology.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Nov 19th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
Transcript Highlights:
- Let me change the screen for y'all.
- It's in the background investigation, these officers, and then using the systems to very quickly identify
- To provide background on the... ...reporting system, or commonly referred to as FIBERS.
- To provide background on how the data is reported to FDLE, local agencies enter their crime data into
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met to hear budget presentations from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), an FDLE update on the Uniform Arrest Affidavit and Florida Incident-Based Reporting System (FIBERS), the Department of Juvenile Justice on Florida Scholars Academy, and the Clerks of Court Operations Corporation. FDLE requested funding for a wide range of items, including a new Fort Myers regional operations center lease, technology upgrades for missing persons alerts and criminal justice data systems, replacement breath-test instruments, recurring support for critical public safety contracts, cybersecurity, a career offender registry unit, expanded wellness and peer support for law enforcement, cryptocurrency seizure efforts, vehicle replacement, forensic lab and digital forensics upgrades, a repaired Jacksonville firearm range, and additional resources for criminal alien detection, fentanyl enforcement, and other operational needs. Senators questioned FDLE about the reported 79% increase in officer misconduct cases, body cameras, masking by officers, public records request burdens, and the status of criminal alien detection funding.
FDLE’s second presentation explained that FIBERS is Florida’s incident-based crime reporting system and that 61% of agencies, covering 74% of the population, have transitioned to it. The agency also described the Uniform Arrest Affidavit initiative, which standardizes arrest data for statewide sharing. Senators asked about NCIC/FCIC access, hate crime reporting requirements, and why more agencies have not adopted the UAA and FIBERS systems; FDLE said it is working with law enforcement associations and vendors to address technology and implementation barriers. The committee also heard from DJJ Secretary Matt Walsh, who praised FDLE’s wellness program and then reported on Florida Scholars Academy’s first year, including unified education across 39 residential facilities, security fixes after early website access issues, strong enrollment and graduation numbers, and extensive support for students with disabilities. Walsh said the program still faces staffing shortages and a wait list for residential beds, and estimated about 260 additional beds are needed.
The final presentation came from Clerk of Court and Comptroller Stacey Butterfield, who said clerks are operating with outdated funding levels and requested $22 million to stabilize operations. She highlighted reimbursement shortfalls for injunctions for protection and other high-risk cases, rising postage and summons costs, and the need to fund clerk staffing for 37 new judges under the “fund the entire courtroom” concept. Senators asked about SB 532, a CPI-based court-fee bill, and about collections of court fines and fees. Butterfield said clerks work with defendants on payment plans and collections, but the system still faces a structural deficit. After the presentations and questions, the committee adjourned without taking any substantive votes or other action.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism Committee Jun 23rd, 2026
Arts, Entertainment, Sports, and Tourism
Transcript Highlights:
- When a real performer appears in a commercial, either on screen or behind a microphone, they bring something
- still feel the bill requires a label anytime a synthetic performer appears, even in a sedentary background
- full of people prominent because it's a large number of people and may take up a large part of the screen
FL
Florida 2025 Regular Session
November 18, 2025 - 01:00 PM
Transcript Highlights:
- It's happening in the school building, but through a tablet or computer screen with our students, they
- And so with the support of organizations such as the ones on the screen, we have also put together resources
- my question is and I guess the schools are ready workout, make sure to people in their the Fed background
NV
Nevada 2025 Regular Session
Assembly Floor Session May 29th, 2025 at 11:30 am
Nevada Assembly Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Assembly Bill No. 234, introduced by Assemblymember Anderson, requires Medicaid coverage for screening
- Assembly Bill No. 234, introduced by Assemblymember Anderson, requires Medicaid coverage for screening
- Assembly Bill No. 551, introduced by the Committee on Ways and Means, requires a background investigation
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- I don't have a background in agriculture or science or business.
- of my recent experience in the Office of Ag Water Policy, we have a grove in Polk County on your screen
- my recent experience in the Office of Agwater Policy, we have rarely grove in Polk County on your screen
Summary:
The Senate Committee on Agriculture met with a quorum present and heard three presentations focused on Florida aquaculture, agricultural nutrient reduction, and land preservation. First, clam farmer Tim Solano of Cedar Key described the economic and environmental importance of the state’s clam industry, noting Florida’s strong national production, the industry’s recovery role after the net ban, and the severe damage caused by recent hurricanes and red tide. He said the Dislocated Workers program helped farmers return to work and asked that existing state programs be written more broadly to include aquaculture. Oyster producer Canaan Greg of Pelican Oyster Company then discussed the growth of off-bottom oyster farming, the losses his industry suffered from Hurricane Michael and the pandemic, and the need for better access to recovery loans, student internships, local seed production, and waterfront protection. Members asked questions about leases, production, predators, and storm resilience, and the presenters emphasized that aquaculture is a sustainable, year-round industry that filters water and supports local economies.
The committee next heard from UF/IFAS regional extension agent Dr. Bob Hockmouth on education, research, and extension efforts to reduce nitrogen in the Suwannee Valley Basin Management Action Plan area. He explained that the region’s agricultural load reduction target has increased from about 4.2 million to 5.8 million pounds of nitrogen, and that extension programs are helping farmers adopt practices such as precision fertilizer placement, soil moisture sensors, controlled-release fertilizer, petiole sap testing, and irrigation automation. He highlighted corn and watermelon as major examples, saying on-farm demonstrations and cost-share programs are essential because the equipment and technology are expensive. He reported substantial reductions from participating farms and said growers are generally cooperative when funding is available.
Finally, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services presented an update on the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The program acquires development rights through voluntary conservation easements to keep working agricultural lands in production, protect water resources and wildlife habitat, and preserve taxable land without transferring ownership. The presenter said the program has expanded rapidly in the last two years, with more acreage acquired, faster application review, and more properties in the Florida wildlife corridor. He noted new online application and monitoring tools, a shortened review timeline, and stronger partnerships with federal and defense-related programs. Committee members asked about long-term maintenance responsibilities and the Board of Trustees approval process, and the presentation closed with support for continued funding and efficiency improvements before the committee adjourned without objection.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting Jul 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- For those in the waiting room, please make sure your screen name matches the name with which you registered
- heard anyone being interviewed on maybe a radio talk show, and they have their radio going in the background
- We have got you, and by the way, you get the best background award for today. Oh, thank you.
- you might try just turning off your live feed. ...It's kind of like having your radio on in the background
- A little background, yesterday we had over 100 people registered to testify.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Health and Human Services - 03/12/26
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- My daughter last night looked on the screen and read a word. She's only three. They are also moms.
- We are national leaders in newborn screening.
- Minne- We I screen here in Minnesota.
- We are national leaders in newborn<01:30:43.080>
screening. - newborn screening. newborn screening.
AL
Transcript Highlights:
- It is an expanded insurance coverage for breast cancer screening and diagnosis, diagnostic imaging, by
- Um, SB 19 up under, you know, the existing health care plans annual screening for men over 40 for early
- What this bill would do would eliminate the cost sharing for prostate screening.
- Mahaney, who has a diverse background over 30 years in business here.
- Mahhaney who is has a diverse<03:39:42.720>
background diverse background diverse background over
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Tuesday, December 16, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Americans want universal background Americans want universal background checks.<00:19:05.120>
- sponsors before required background sponsors before required background checks<04:45:05.440>
- fingerprinting and background checks. fingerprinting and background checks.
- procedures in place to obtain background procedures in place to obtain background information<04
- , you're screened, you're screened, that<05:11:56.400>
we <05:11:56.560>just <05:11:
CO
Colorado 2026 Regular Session
Colorado House 2026 Legislative Day 119 May 13th, 2026
Colorado House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Sucla, he's on screen, on the wall. >> Yes, sir.
- Uh, I wanted to talk a little bit more about the background for the bill and how it...
- The background for the bill and how it came about today.
- Of the 13 voting members, none of them have a legal background.
- None of them have a legal background. They have subject matter expertise in recycling.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations. (3-17-26)
Licensing & Occupations
Transcript Highlights:
- And okay, essentially as a background for the change that we've proposed is the service bartenders are
- I see them clapping right now on the screen. Um, okay.
- It would establish licensure standards, including use of a multi-state license, criminal background check
- check and teleaalth criminal background check and teleaalth and<00:19:39.200>
it <00:19:39.360 - <00:19:53.760>
checks <00:19:54.000>with diet's bill on background checks with diet's
AL
Alabama 2026 1st Special Session
Alabama Senate Banking and Insurance Committee Feb 4th, 2026
Banking and Insurance
Transcript Highlights:
- It expands insurance coverage for breast cancer screening and diagnostic screening for women that may
- 00:08:31.120>
state <00:08:31.840>to <00:08:32.080>require <00:08:32.479>background - this state to require background this state to require background information<00:08:33.440>
for - They're all in the background. Thank you. All right, moving on. Thank you for coming.
- And, uh, just by way of background, I'm Jonathan Ratliff.
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- While you're riding in the vehicle,... ...While you're riding in the vehicle, there's a screen that displays
- To take advantage of to, let's face it, Waymo doesn't need to pass a background check, and where you're
- And then I looked down at the screen, and about the time I looked down at the screen and looked up, which
- of truck drivers in the United States, I think, is a little bit of a false narrative, maybe smoke screens
- and those of Haitian background, because there's been a horrible discourse going on about those two
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Judiciary Committee Jul 1st, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I provide the information that I need to because I can't get to the next screen if I don't.
- So I really hope that. that I need to because I can't get to the next screen if I don't.
- I think the author covered a couple of background points that I would also emphasize.
- I was just seeing my, like I see my screen, I was waving to myself up there.
- So just to give some background.
Summary:
The committee met as a subcommittee without quorum at first, then later established quorum and continued hearing several bills. SB 27, the annual CARE Court cleanup bill, would require courts to consider CARE referral for certain misdemeanor defendants found incompetent to stand trial, combine some hearings, allow limited data sharing among licensed medical professionals, and expand eligibility to include mood disorders with psychotic features. Supporters said it would clarify the meaning of “clinically stabilized,” streamline the process, and help more severely ill people receive treatment; opponents argued it would expand CARE Court too broadly, strain county resources, and divert attention from housing and voluntary services. The bill passed to the Health Committee on a roll call vote and was placed on call.
SB 82, dealing with so-called “infinite arbitration clauses,” would limit consumer contract arbitration provisions to disputes arising from the product or service actually purchased. The author and supporters said the bill would stop companies from forcing arbitration in unrelated claims and would not ban arbitration itself. Opponents from business and banking groups argued the language was too restrictive, could create litigation over related transactions, and should be clarified as prospective only. The committee approved the bill and placed it on call after a roll call vote.
The committee then heard two reparations-related bills. SB 437 would direct CSU to develop a genealogical methodology and framework for verifying descendants of enslaved people, with oversight, reporting, and guardrails tied to recently allocated state funding. Supporters said the bill would create a fair, evidence-based process; opponents, including professional genealogists and reparations advocates, argued the work is already well understood, the bill is unnecessary, and it could delay action. SB 518 would create a Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery within state government, with divisions for genealogy, property reclamation, outreach, and legal affairs. Supporters framed it as needed infrastructure to implement reparations recommendations; opponents objected to locating it in the Department of Justice, warned about data privacy and law enforcement control, and criticized the inclusion of broader communities. Both bills were moved to Appropriations and placed on call. The committee also heard SB 52, the End AI Rent Hikes Act, which would prohibit the use of algorithms to collude on and artificially inflate rental prices; the author and supporters described it as a response to AI-assisted rent fixing in California’s housing market.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Ways and Means (01/14/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- data, describe them in words, and I've got my little laser pointer here that you can follow on the screen
- So I represent that with this dashed green line here, as you can see on the screen.
- that you can follow on the uh the screen that you can follow on the uh the screen as<00:11:47.760
- line here as you can see on the screen line here as you can see on the screen I'm<00:12:26.240><
- So, keeping this slide on the screen, what you can see here is anecdotal.
Summary:
The meeting was a Ways and Means briefing opened by the vice chair, who introduced Jason Wong of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston to discuss the national and regional economy. Wong focused on inflation, asking why it had fallen from about 9% in 2022 to the 2%–3% range, and what that meant for monetary policy and the risk of an economic downturn. He said the Fed’s target is 2%, noted that recent PCE inflation was about 2.4% and core PCE about 2.7%, and described the ongoing debate over whether interest rates should stay tight or be lowered further to protect the labor market.
Wong explained that the improvement in inflation has been driven largely by goods prices, especially durable goods such as cars, appliances, and furniture, as well as non-durable goods like food. He said supply-chain disruptions during the pandemic caused major price spikes in 2022, but those pressures have eased and many goods prices are now at or below the Fed’s target. He also referenced the New York Fed’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index, saying it showed extreme pandemic-era disruptions that have since receded.
The main remaining inflation problem, he said, is in services, especially housing. Wong broke services into rent of shelter and all other services, explaining that shelter is a large share of household budgets and that housing inflation has a lag because rent measures often reflect older lease terms rather than current market rents. He said monthly Zillow data suggest market rents have cooled and may eventually feed through to official inflation measures. Members asked several questions about the chart’s time scale, the treatment of real estate, property taxes, and utilities, and Wong clarified that housing costs are counted in services and that the slides would be shared digitally. No votes or formal actions were taken.