Video & Transcript : 'governor authority' :
Page 91 of 500
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Education Committee Mar 25th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Under the Governor’s proposal, the Governor would have more authority than today.
- and implementation authority.
- This Governor has done more than any Governor has done in modern times.
- budget authority and legislative authority, right?
- independently elected superintendent of public instruction and transfer that authority to a Governor-appointed
Summary:
The Assembly Education Committee first heard two bills. AB 1665 by Assemblymember Pacheco would require school sports coaches to complete approved mental health training. Supporters said coaches are trusted adults who are often first to notice student-athlete distress, and a witness described personal experience with body image and disordered eating pressures in athletics. There was no opposition, and the bill was moved out of committee on a due pass as amended motion to Appropriations, ultimately passing 9-0 after add-on votes. AB 2316 by Assemblymember Hoover would allow charter schools to apply for the same financial hardship relief in the state school facilities program that traditional districts can seek. Supporters argued this would improve parity and help smaller and low-income charter schools access permanent facilities; some initially opposed agencies said their concerns were addressed by amendments. The bill also passed unanimously, 9-0, to Appropriations.
The committee then took up a consent calendar containing 12 additional measures, including bills on education funding, facilities, and other school-related matters, plus a resolution. Those items were approved on a 7-0 vote, with the roll left open for add-on votes. After the bill hearing portion was recessed and later reconvened, additional members added votes to AB 1665, AB 2316, and the consent calendar, bringing each to 9-0.
The committee then held an informational hearing on state-level education governance, centered on Governor Newsom’s proposal to restructure the California Department of Education and the role of the elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, with AB 2117 serving as a policy vehicle carrying the same language and no action to be taken. Testimony came from the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the Education Commission of the States, and former CDE chief deputy Richard Zager. Witnesses reviewed the history of California’s governance structure, compared it with other states, and discussed accountability, legislative oversight, and the role of the superintendent under the proposal. Committee members raised concerns about preserving checks and balances, the fiscal implementation plan, county-office relationships, and whether the superintendent’s role would be reduced too far; no vote was taken at the informational hearing.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Press Conference: Senate Republicans Introduce Minnesotans Safety First Plan - 02/25/25
Transcript Highlights:
- This authority has become problematic.
- that same and a governor sign that same legislation<00:04:11.000><c> this</c><00:04:11.640><c> Authority
- </c><00:05:10.520><c> appointed</c> branch govern Governor appointed branch govern Governor appointed
- </c> one year after the incident Governor one year after the incident Governor Mark<00:07:02.599><c>
- </c><00:14:39.360><c> they</c> are very loyal to the governor they are very loyal to the governor they
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- Budget request for the Office of the Governor.
- the point of authorized units.
- If authorization... ...examples you gave.
- This was not recommended by the governor.
- The governor did not recommend this. That’s on page 46. The governor did not recommend this.
Committee:
House Budget
MO
Transcript Highlights:
- Budget request for the Office of the Governor.
- The governor didn't recommend it. Correct.
- This was not recommended by the governor.
- The governor recommended that. The governor recommended that core with no change.
- So what it is, what it's representing is it's not money, it's authority. Authority? Okay.
Committee:
House Budget
Summary:
The committee first heard the Office of the Governor’s FY 2027 budget request from Adam Gresham. He explained the office’s staffing and noted a $500,000 core reduction, along with a reallocation of three positions and about $168,000 from the governor’s office to the mansion operating fund to better reflect where those employees work. Members asked about the National Guard emergency line, which Gresham said had already spent about $63,457 in FY 2026 and could be used again for disaster activations, though he did not expect to use the full $4 million. He also said the agricultural resiliency transfer fund had not been used and had no current transfer plans. Several members commented on the size of the governor’s cut and whether the judiciary and other offices were also being asked to reduce budgets. No votes were taken.
The committee then moved to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Childhood and early childhood-related budget items. DESE staff described funding for the Office of Childhood, MoQPK child care provider grants, LEA pre-K grants, early childhood special education, Parents as Teachers, First Steps, preschool coordination, after-school programs, and child care subsidy. Members asked extensively about the MoQPK grants, including why Head Start providers were eligible, how curriculum approval works, and what safeguards exist against fraud or improper payments. DESE said it conducts physical inspections, desk reviews, payment-system checks, and investigations as needed, and that it had not had findings in this area. Some members questioned whether DESE or DSS was the right home for early childhood programs, while others defended the partnership and the role of early educators in identifying child needs.
A major portion of the discussion focused on early childhood special education and the child care subsidy program. DESE explained that First Steps serves children birth to age three, while early childhood special education covers ages three to five and is driven by IEP eligibility; members asked for more data on diagnoses, trends, and how many children come off IEPs. The committee also discussed the child care subsidy budget and the governor’s proposed shift to paying providers based on authorization and at the beginning of the month. DESE said the change is being piloted, that a wait list is expected to begin around March 1, and that a May rollout is being considered, but only if software testing and fiscal projections show the system is sustainable. Members expressed frustration that promised changes had been delayed and that providers had been told different timelines, while DESE said the delay was driven by software issues, fiscal caution, and the need to avoid repeating prior payment problems. The hearing ended with the committee in recess before later resuming discussion of the subsidy program; no final votes or actions were taken in the portion provided.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 59 (4-14-26) - Part 1
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- I, Andy Beshear, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, pursuant to the authority granted under Section
- I, Andy Beshear, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, pursuant to the authority granted under Section
- I, Andy Beshear, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, pursuant to the authority granted under Section
- I, Andy Beshear, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, pursuant to the authority granted under Section
- I, Andy Beshear, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, pursuant to the authority granted under Section
Bills:
SB141 , SB124 , SB56 , SJR116 , SB94 , SB37 , SB127 , SB197 , SB66 , SB70 , SB133 , SB160 , SB214 , SB312 , SB52 , SJR62 , SJR75
Keywords:
legal advertisements, tax rates, public hearings, transparency, local government, sick leave, education, teacher retirement, benefits, employee compensation, Medicaid, nonopioid analgesics, pain management, health care regulation, utilization controls, physician shortage, health care access, medically underserved areas, medical education, workforce development
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 2/13/25 - Part 2
State Government Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- No governor, no bureaucrat, no hospital administrator should have the authority to decide that a dying
- The governor has the authority to issue— preferred approach for this committee is preferred approach
- </c><00:19:20.000><c> issue</c> The governor has the authority to issue emergency orders and do things
- It doesn't matter that it's the current governor or any other future governor or past governor.
- Representative Roach, well, this would change that authority. each house may the governor exercise the
Committee:
House State Government Finance and Policy
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Feb 27th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- If there is no objection, we will let the author explain.
- I recognize the author of the bill, Representative Engen.
- I recognize the author of the bill, Representative Engin.
- We didn't just vote with our governor.
- But it happened under Governor Walz.
NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Courts, Corrections and Justice Sep 22nd, 2025
Courts, Corrections & Justice Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- of the governor.
- In the case of California, Title X, no consular is required by law to the Governor, the authority of
- Under Title 10, the President has the authority to deploy National Guard within a state without the Governor
- Like, actually, the Governor under certain circumstances can authorize the National Guard to be a police
- Certainly, when you talk about the authority of the governor and the laws that guide that, you're the
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House State Government Finance and Policy Committee 2/13/25 - Part 1
State Government Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The governor would retain the authority to call out the National Guard for a peacetime emergency, but
- Representative Roach, my intent here is to make sure that the governor does not have unilateral authority
- As we saw during COVID, the governor used his authority to strip away people's rights, take away their
- </c><01:27:29.960><c> used</c><01:27:30.360><c> his</c><01:27:30.560><c> authority</c> uh co uh the governor
- used his authority uh co uh the governor used his authority to<01:27:32.159><c> strip</c><01:27:32.400
Committee:
House State Government Finance and Policy
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- , and the governor conducted interviews.
- That to the governor, they're essentially making that decision.
- But the governor is the higher authority.
- And that list was forwarded to the governor.
- And the governor shall choose that one choice.
Committee:
House Local Government
Summary:
The committee heard House Bill 892, sponsored by Representative Harris, which would change the number of nominees submitted to fill a midterm county commissioner vacancy based on county population. Under the bill, counties with 50,000 or fewer residents would submit one nominee, counties between 50,000 and 100,000 would submit two, and counties over 100,000 would continue to submit three. Harris argued the change would help small counties that struggle to find enough willing candidates and would preserve local control by letting county central committees make the selection.
Jennifer Reby, a Payette County commissioner, testified in opposition. She said her county has had strong applicant pools for commissioner vacancies and argued that reducing the list to one nominee would effectively turn the central committee’s role into making the appointment itself, rather than preserving a meaningful choice for the governor. In discussion, several members raised concerns that the 50,000 threshold was too high and would affect most counties, while others supported the bill as a practical response to difficulty filling local vacancies. Some members suggested the bill went too far and should be revised rather than adopted as written.
The committee then voted on a motion to send HB 892 to the floor with a due pass recommendation. The motion passed 8-6, and the bill was reported to the floor.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- </c><00:18:36.080><c> and</c> direct state aid uh that's authored and direct state aid uh that's authored
- </c><00:42:18.880><c> might</c> um situation where the governor might um situation where the governor
- </c><00:51:02.160><c> can</c> amendment just says the governor can amendment just says the governor can
- </c><01:03:54.079><c> a</c> here is removing from the governor a here is removing from the governor a
- </c> parameters around what the governor parameters around what the governor should<01:04:24.000><c>
VA
Transcript Highlights:
- Man, he's doing hijinks with the governor, man. You big time now.
- The Governor supports this bill to ensure...
- The Governor proposed nine amendments to House Bill 888.
- House bills' recommendations by the Governor.
- House bills' recommendations by the Governor.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate State and Local Government Apr 10th, 2025 at 02:30 pm
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Our case, you don't work for the governor, right?
- Are you the governor is a unique case?
- He is the governor, so, you know, that's, you know, that's. are you the governor is a unique case.
- He is the governor. So, you know, that's that.
- And, Madam Chair, would we have to leave the governor in since the governor already has a... Yeah.
Committee:
Senate State and Local Government
Summary:
The Senate State and Local Government Committee reconvened and reviewed the status of several bills. The chair said bill 1377 could not be acted on until the House finished work on campaign finance bill 2156, and bill 1535 likely would not be ready because of unresolved concerns from Representative Davis and planned meetings with Highway Patrol and BCI. The committee therefore focused on bill 1601, which dealt with when the Attorney General may refuse or revoke special assistant attorney general appointments for certain state offices and entities.
Members debated the policy and constitutional implications of the bill, including whether it was solving a real problem or creating a potential conflict, and whether statewide elected officials and independent bodies should have their own counsel. After testimony from the Chief Deputy Attorney General clarifying current law and the appropriations process, the committee amended the bill to add the Ethics Commission to the list of entities and to narrow the affected offices to the Governor, State Auditor, and Ethics Commission. The committee also changed one provision from “and” to “or” to clarify the standard for refusal or revocation.
The committee then approved the bill as amended on a 6-0 vote and designated Senator Braunberger as the carrier. The chair said the committee would not meet the next morning and would instead reconvene the following week at the call of the chair.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Transportation Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Transportation
Transcript Highlights:
- The proposal would authorize a 50% increase to the typical annual authorization for the Chapter 90 program
- The proposal would authorize a 50% increase to the typical annual authorization for the Chapter 90 program
- And the $300 million annual appropriation that the governor has proposed with multi-year authorization
- Last year, Governor Healy and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll asked MassDOT and my team, ANF, to convene
- We know you have considered multi-year authorizations in the past, but we truly believe, as the governor
Committee:
Joint Joint Committee on Transportation
Summary:
The Joint Committee on Transportation held its first hearing of the session on H. 53, Governor Healey’s Chapter 90 proposal to increase state funding for municipal roads, bridges, sidewalks, and culverts. Committee chairs outlined the hybrid hearing process and invited testimony from municipal officials, labor groups, regional planning organizations, contractors, and administration officials. Across the hearing, speakers consistently supported the bill, emphasizing long-deferred maintenance, inflation in construction costs, climate-related flooding, and the need for more predictable, multi-year funding so cities and towns can plan projects and take advantage of the construction season.
The administration described H. 53 as part of a broader $8 billion transportation package, proposing to raise annual Chapter 90 funding from $200 million to $300 million for five years, with the additional $100 million distributed by road mileage to better support rural and small communities. They also highlighted $200 million for culverts and small bridges, plus other transportation investments, and said the five-year authorization would provide certainty for municipal capital planning. Municipal witnesses from places including Carlisle, Beverly, Granby, Hatfield, Newton, Nahant, Gardner, Beckett, and Yarmouth described local road and culvert backlogs, rising asphalt costs, and the difficulty of maintaining infrastructure on limited local budgets.
Labor and industry witnesses from the AFL-CIO and MAPA said the bill would support good-paying jobs and provide stability for contractors and producers. The MBTA Advisory Board and regional planning representatives also backed the proposal, noting the connection between local roads and the broader transportation system. Committee members asked questions about the road-mile formula, culvert needs, asphalt costs, and the rationale for a five-year authorization. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the committee adjourned after testimony concluded.
ID
Transcript Highlights:
- , and the governor conducted interviews. ...went through interviews, sent the names to the governor,
- and the governor conducted interviews and made his selection.
- except the state and the governor in this particular instance.
- But the governor is the higher authority.
- And that list was forwarded to the governor.
Committee:
House Local Government
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- The governor has power.
- The intent of H. 3829, as I understand it, is to reassert the authority of the governor of the commonwealth
- The intent of H. 3829, as I understand it, is to reassert the authority of the governor of the prior
- The proposed amendment emphasizes that the governor remains the final authority and can personally assume
- The governor says no.
Summary:
The committee held a hybrid public hearing on seven House bills and seven Senate bills related to the Massachusetts National Guard and U.S. Armed Forces Reserves. Opening remarks covered hearing procedures, livestreaming, testimony limits, and expected reporting dates, and chairs noted the committee’s focus on Guard and Reserve issues. Testimony then moved through several bills, including S. 2465 to expand the National Guard welcome-home veterans bonus to all deployed Guard members regardless of residency, H. 3876/S. 2462 to authorize military-style headstones for long-serving or deceased Guard members, and S. 2482/H. 3833 to establish a Massachusetts National Guard Museum in Salem. Supporters of the bonus and headstone bills argued they would correct inequities and better honor service; Senator Lovely described the museum proposal as a way to preserve the Guard’s history in Salem and potentially support federal funding for the project.
A major portion of the hearing focused on H. 3829/S. 2471, the “Defend the Guard” proposal that would bar Massachusetts National Guard deployments into active combat absent a formal congressional declaration of war. Supporters argued the bill would restore constitutional war powers, reduce repeated undeclared deployments, and protect Guard members’ mental health and state readiness. Opponents, including retired Guard leaders and current service members, warned it could conflict with federal law and Title 10 authority, undermine federal funding and training, and harm readiness, force structure, and unique Guard capabilities. Committee members repeatedly questioned the bill’s legal authority, constitutional basis, and practical effects under the Supremacy Clause and Title 10, and several witnesses were asked to submit additional written legal support.
The committee also heard testimony on H. 3831, which would extend Chapter 115 benefits to currently serving Guard and Reserve members who do not meet federal veteran-status thresholds, and on related proposals to clarify Guard command structure and the duties of the Adjutant General. Supporters said these changes would improve access to benefits, reduce confusion in the chain of command, and strengthen discipline and responsiveness. Separately, the National Guard Association of Massachusetts backed H. 3860/S. 2458, the Guard Enlistment Enhancement Program, as a recruiting tool, while opposing the Defend the Guard bills. No votes were taken during the hearing.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- first message to the governor.
- It provides only discretionary authority for the EIB to consider labeling Authority for the EIB to consider
- It does not create residual and undefined authority over It does not create residual and undefined authority
- That understanding did not include granting broad labeling authority or residual authority over exempt
- Governor Legislative Message Number 1. Seeing no objection. Governor Legislative Message Number 1.
Bills:
SB241
Keywords:
child care, child care assistance, child care subsidy, early childhood education, early childhood care, daycare, preschool, pre-K, Head Start, Early Head Start, Children's Code, early childhood education and care department, ECECD, child care facilities, licensed child care, registered child care, copayments, waitlist, subsidy, federal poverty level
Summary:
The Senate began by outlining the day’s agenda, then received several House messages, including the House’s request for concurrence on Senate Bill 151 and notice that the House had concurred in Senate amendments to House Bills 2, 3, and 70. The Senate also received enrolled bills SB 64 and SB 101, and later adopted committee reports on House Bill 120 and SB 64. The chamber then took up concurrence on SB 151, a tax package that the House amended to remove the gross receipts tax provision for medical supplies, add a 1% salary increase for state employees, higher education, and public schools, extend a high-wage job tax credit, and add sunsets. Senator Hamblen supported concurrence as a friendly amendment, while Senator Cervantes argued the House changes transformed the bill into an unconstitutional appropriations measure and urged a conference committee. The Senate nevertheless concurred, 22-14.
On third reading, the Senate passed House Bill 61, which increases the penalty for aggravated battery on a peace officer from a third-degree to a second-degree felony to align with other sentencing provisions. Supporters, including Senator Cervantes, cited consistency in the criminal code and noted the Sentencing Commission’s endorsement; the bill passed 37-0. The Senate also passed House Joint Memorial 3, directing the Environment Department to convene stakeholders and report on implementation of the PFAS Protection Act, despite a brief exchange over whether the memorial could be read as expanding authority under the existing PFAS law; it passed 22-13.
The chamber then passed several memorials: Senate Memorial 20, amended to include youth and family voices and legislative appointees in a statewide youth violence summit, passed 35-0; Senate Memorial 21, calling for a study of a statewide overdose prevention program, passed 35-0; Senate Memorial 22, which asks the Legislative Finance Committee to convene a working group on domestic violence funding and CYFD-related funding flows, passed; and Senate Memorial 27, urging expansion of the Radiation Exposure Act to compensate New Mexicans affected by atomic testing and uranium mining, passed 34-0. At the end of the session, the Senate received a governor’s message authorizing consideration of SB 74 on cockfighting penalties, followed by a playful Senate response message. The body also agreed to move House Joint Memorial 2 from Rules to the President’s table and then recessed until 8:30 a.m. the next day.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting Jul 30th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- It was also addressed to the governor.
- It was only directed to the Attorney General and to the governor.
- And you've said we're here because the governor put it on the call.
- If two-thirds of the members vote to authorize the subpoena, then I'll have the authority to do. that
- If we want to produce a new map, we have the authority to consider.
ND
North Dakota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Appropriations - Human Resources Division Apr 10th, 2025 at 02:30 pm
Appropriations - Human Resources Division
Transcript Highlights:
- That's just the authority language.
- It's just, are we expanding more authority to the governor?
- In some way can this be equated to, with PERS last session, you know, the governor, we gave the governor
- This is just giving the governor a little more authority, but there will be the board there to do the
- And it just seems it gives the governor a little more power and authority, I guess, in that process,
Summary:
The committee reconvened to work through the amended version of Senate Bill 2025, beginning with a clarification from the Department of Veterans Affairs on the source of funds used to cover the commissioner’s salary equity increase. Commissioner Lonnie Wong explained that the money came from federal highly rural transportation grant administrative/salary funds, within the allowable 10% administrative cap, and that the department had not exceeded that limit. The committee then reviewed the major House changes to the veterans budget, including funding for a veterans benefits specialist FTE, salary equity increases for veterans service officers, additional operating funds, one-time funding for homeless veteran services and the Veterans Post-War Trust Fund, carryover authority for Fisher House and veterans transportation projects, accrued leave, and a document scanning project. Members also discussed a section changing governance authority for veterans affairs and the veterans home, with questions about the ACOVA board and the governor’s appointment authority.
The committee debated the appropriateness of using federal grant administrative funds for salary adjustments and the broader shift in authority over veterans affairs, with some members emphasizing legislative control over salaries and budget decisions and others supporting the reorganization as a way to improve administration. After discussion, Amendment 25.092.0203 was moved, seconded, and adopted on an 8-0 roll call. The committee then moved SB 2025 as amended, and that motion also passed 8-0.
The meeting then shifted to Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation budget issues, where members reviewed FTE reductions, salary equity funding for correctional officers and parole/probation officers, and the status of federal ARPA dollars that had previously been used to backfill salaries and bonuses. DOCR officials described pay levels for correctional officers and compared them with county jail wages, arguing that the proposed equity funding was needed for retention and competitiveness. Members also discussed transitional facility costs, women’s treatment unit funding, and county jail overflow housing, including new or planned bed capacity in Grand Forks, Burleigh-Morton, Rugby, and other facilities. The committee agreed to continue refining the budget through a new long sheet and planned to request amendments for consideration in the following days before adjourning.
TX
Texas 89th 1st C.S.
Senate Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting Jul 30th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- It was also addressed to the governor.
- Not only did the governor put redistricting on the call.
- say that Texas doesn't have the authority to do that.
- If, if there's a, if 2/3 of the members vote to, uh, authorize the subpoena, then I'll have the authority
- And, uh, but without getting into our authority to do it.