Video & Transcript Research : 'voluntary process'
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NM
New Mexico 2025 Regular Session
IC - Water and Natural Resources Aug 19th, 2025
Water & Natural Resources Committee
Transcript Highlights:
- So we already went through the process of approval.
- The process both as a citizen but also as somebody who works in the sector.
- So I'm sure this is a process That's improving along the way. Thank you.
- And is a part of the process being considered by most solar production companies at this point in time
- I'm always looking at innovative ways in which we can improve our processes and improve our systems so
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Caucus of the Whole - 2026-05-29 - 11:15AM
Vermont House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Really much of what the Senate proposed Really much of what the Senate proposed was to add clarity to processes
- aid, and filled in some gaps, such as making sure no district would be left behind in the merger process
- There is the um There is the merger process, the voluntary merger process.
- They added some processes that I think are additive to the bill and making it better.
- Not a big change in intent, just essentially a change in process and function.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs Apr 23rd, 2025 at 10:04 am
Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- The FTA program is voluntary.
- The FTA program is voluntary, which is adopted by 243 counties out of our 254 counties.
- So if you're the property owner, there's another process that you could use besides this.
- The bill creates a secure and voluntary way to prevent identity fraud.
- I'm six months in, and I have an FTO process. I put 30 hours a week. I risk my life.
Bills:
HB1455, HB1777, HB2101, HB2136, HB2609, HB3142, HB3552, HB3846, HB4155, HB4514, HB4879, HB4995, HB5014, HB5139, HB5228, HB5436, HCR40
Keywords:
mental health, jail diversion, law enforcement, reporting requirements, criminal justice, data collection, criminal justice reform, intellectual disability, mental illness, data reporting, public safety, reporting, substance abuse, sex offender, driver's license, identification, gunshot detection, unreported gunshots, municipal police, crime investigation
Summary:
The committee met with a quorum and heard several bills, generally leaving them pending after testimony. HB 4995 would create a training/certification program allowing licensed physicians and certain EMS personnel assigned to tactical units to carry firearms during high-risk deployments, with supporters saying it would protect tactical medical staff and improve emergency care; the committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill left pending. HB 2609 would repeal the OmniBase/failure-to-appear-or-pay license hold program; the author and supporters argued it unfairly compounds debt and traps drivers in noncompliance, while judges and municipal court representatives said it is an effective, voluntary tool that prompts court appearances and reduces warrants. HB 4879 would create a grant program to help local law enforcement pay for lab testing of suspected hemp/THC substances, and HB 5436 would allow licensed auto recyclers to purchase certain untitled vehicles for scrap or parts to curb illegal sales, VIN cloning, and chop shop activity; both bills drew supportive testimony and were left pending.
The committee also heard HB 1777, which would place a discrete sex-offender designation on driver’s licenses and state IDs for registrants under Chapter 62. The author said the marker would help law enforcement and businesses quickly identify potentially dangerous offenders and cited other states and research in support, while opponents argued it would function as a scarlet letter, increase harassment, and punish people who are already complying with the law. HB 4155 would create a Family Violence Criminal Homicide Prevention Task Force in the Governor’s Office to study risk factors, coordinate agencies, and recommend policy changes; the author, HHSC, TCFV, and a survivor testified in support, emphasizing the number of family violence homicides and the need for coordinated, data-driven prevention, and the bill was left pending.
Finally, HB 4514 would authorize DPS to use facial image verification, with consent and confidentiality protections, to help businesses verify identities and combat fraud. Supporters from the lumber and identity-verification industries said it would reduce losses from fake IDs and organized theft, while the author stressed privacy safeguards and limited, consent-based use. The committee substitute was withdrawn and the bill was left pending.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Resources, Recreation and Development (01/28/2026)
Resources, Recreation and Development
Transcript Highlights:
- <03:17:59.359>
An intent to cut process right now. An intent to cut process right now. - Um, I was just permitting process.
- c> and or new process. processes to treat and or new process. processes to treat and dispose<05:08
- traditional processes require. traditional processes require.
- our grant processes.
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Energy, Utilities, Environment and Climate - 02/17/25
Energy, Utilities, Environment, and Climate
Transcript Highlights:
- the puc then go through that process the puc then go through that process Senator<00:31:10.320><
- We are in the process of issuing an RFP shortly.
- for large infrastructure projects from multiple processes into two: the major and the standard process
- <01:31:40.159>
for Consolidated the approval processes for Consolidated the approval processes - :47.719>
allowed and the standard uh process and allowed and the standard uh process and allowed
TX
Texas 89th Regular
89th Legislative Session - First Called Session Aug 4th, 2025
Texas House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- prevent and reduce fraudulent charitable solicitations during disasters, including establishing a voluntary
Keywords:
redistricting, congressional districts, Texas Legislature, elections, 2020 Census, 997, house, all
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Much of that is voluntary, but so much overtime. getting waxed by the government, you getting waxed by
- Much of<01:02:56.240>
that <01:02:56.480>voluntary, <01:02:57.040>but <01:02:57.280 - of that voluntary, but so much overtime. of that voluntary, but so much overtime.
- It does not simplify the process of filling out your taxes.
- It does not simplify the process of filling out your taxes.
Summary:
The committee took up House File 3524 and House File 3525 and laid both over for possible inclusion in the omnibus tax bill, with no amendments adopted and no vote taken at this stage. HF 3524 would conform Minnesota law to the federal overtime tax deduction, and HF 3525 would conform to the federal tip-income deduction. The author argued both bills would help workers keep more of their earnings, simplify tax filing, support labor-force participation, and provide relief to workers in hospitality, trades, health care, and other industries.
The committee heard testimony in support from a restaurant owner, Sandra Weiss of the Finnish Beastro in St. Paul, who said the bills would help tipped workers keep more of their income and would support hospitality businesses. She described her staff as roughly half men and half women, including students and long-term employees, and said front-of-house tipped workers and back-of-house workers face different pay levels. She also said Minnesota’s tip rules and lack of a tip credit create challenges for the industry. During questioning, members discussed wage disparities, the makeup of her workforce, and the practical effects of the proposals.
Opposition testimony came from Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project and Eric Bernstein of We Make Minnesota, both of whom argued the bills are regressive, poorly targeted, and costly. They said the deductions would mainly benefit higher earners, violate horizontal equity by treating similar incomes differently, and could encourage compensation restructuring. They also warned the combined cost would exceed $500 million over the 2028-29 biennium and could pressure funding for health care, education, and other public services. Mark Havenman of the Minnesota Center for Fiscal Excellence similarly criticized the bills on tax fairness and administrative grounds, noting the federal tip deduction framework is still under development and could create enforcement issues. Nonpartisan staff provided revenue estimates showing HF 3524 would reduce general fund revenue by about $365.9 million in fiscal 2027 and HF 3525 by about $126 million in fiscal 2027, with smaller ongoing impacts in later years. Members also raised questions about how the bills would be paid for and what income would qualify under the overtime deduction.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Energy Finance and Policy Committee 3/5/26
Energy Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- process process will<00:53:37.680>
eclipse <00:53:38.480>the <00:53:38.720>this - We're talking about of need process.
- House File 382 only impacts the certificate of need process. We don't touch the routing process.
- impacts the certificate of need process. impacts the certificate of need process.
- part of our rebuild process. part of our rebuild process.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Commerce Committee Meeting - 2026-04-07
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- part of that process. part of that process.
- committee bipartisan committee process. committee bipartisan committee process.
- found throughout the committee process found throughout the committee process that<00:31:33.920>
- <00:32:08.240>
we throughout the committee process we throughout the committee process we - developers is entirely voluntary developers is entirely voluntary in<01:33:54.680>
practice
Keywords:
data broker, data brokerage, consumer privacy, personal data, data privacy, Minnesota attorney general, registration, public registry, civil penalties, enforcement, special revenue fund, privacy rights, data sales, data collection, consumer protection, chapter 325M, controller, processor, data broker registry, transparency
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Children and Family Law (03/25/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:11:47.560>
what or is it to be kept as voluntary what or is it to be kept as voluntary - Also, we hear a lot about due process.
- <01:22:44.679>
the yeah and and so the the process the yeah and and so the the process the - >
to <01:22:45.880>look process probably isn't going to look process probably isn't going - What is the process like?
Summary:
The subcommittee on the Children and Family Law Committee met organizationally to continue work on family court issues, building on a prior special committee’s report and taking a collaborative approach with the Judiciary. The chair said the group would focus on solutions rather than rehashing public complaints, and identified three main topics for early study: specialization and training of family court judges, the extent to which judges should be bound by the rules of evidence, and whether mediation in family cases should be mandatory or voluntary and what qualifications mediators should have. A fourth concern was also raised about overlap between superior court domestic violence cases and family court custody/support matters, and whether one judge should hear both. Members discussed whether to divide into smaller subcommittees, but the prevailing view was to work as a committee of the whole at first. Most members agreed that additional public testimony was unlikely to add much, though recent concerns could still be emailed to the committee.
The committee then heard from Attorney Erin Krian, general counsel for the judicial branch, and Judge Michael Mace. Krian said the judicial branch could provide additional witnesses on mediation and judicial training, including Judge Kissinger, and noted the branch was preparing materials on how other states handle the issues. Mace described the history of the Family Division and said he had reviewed older reports going back to the 1990s. He also outlined current judicial branch efforts, including expanded shadowing for new judges, monthly family-law trainings, and a year-long focus on family law topics. He reported that court rules had been updated to clarify notice requirements for minor guardianship changes, and that the branch had received positive feedback on the family access motion, which provides a statutory timeline and listed remedies for parenting-time disputes.
Members also discussed prior committee work on rules of evidence and family court procedures. One member recalled recommending quiet review of any judges who appeared to apply evidence rules inconsistently, and Krian said the administrative judge can review complaints even if they come from a single person. The committee also received a status update on prior initiatives, including a federal grant for guardian ad litem services for indigent litigants in four locations, testing of redesigned court forms, and continued training improvements. The chair scheduled the next subcommittee meeting for April 1 and the full Children and Family Law Committee for April 8, with further documents from committee research and NCSL to be circulated.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Judiciary Committee Mar 11th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- It's a voluntary program, and the focus is not on protection.
- And that starts at the time of booking at pretrial all the way through the court process.
- And watching that process, I thought it was elegant. People were moved for cause.
- You want to make sure you have a fair process.
- And so that being said, I think this is a time-consuming process.
Summary:
The Assembly Judiciary Committee heard three bills. AB 250 by Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry would extend a limited window for survivors of sexual assault to seek civil recourse against perpetrators and entities that allegedly covered up abuse. The author and supporters, including survivor Maya Alexander and Equal Rights Advocates, said many survivors need years before they can come forward and that the bill would improve accountability and public safety. One member raised concerns about the bill’s application to private employers and the exclusion of public employees, but the bill was advanced on a motion to Appropriations and later placed on call until additional votes were added.
AB 373 by Assemblymember Rubio would require appointed counsel for non-minor dependents in extended foster care to represent the young adult’s expressed wishes rather than substitute the attorney’s judgment. Supporters from California Youth Connection and the Children’s Law Center said 18- to 21-year-olds in foster care are legal adults and should have their voices fully respected in court. Members discussed how the bill would work in practice and whether it applied only to appointed counsel; the bill was moved to Human Services and later cleared after additional votes were added.
AB 387 by Assemblymember Alanis, as amended, would exempt probation officers from criminal jury service. The author and supporters argued probation officers are deeply involved in the criminal justice process, often get dismissed anyway, and should be focused on supervision and court-related duties rather than jury duty. The Judicial Council opposed the bill, warning that categorical exemptions shrink the jury pool and set a bad precedent. After debate over fairness, precedent, and the role of probation officers, the committee voted the bill out on a do pass motion.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee 4/2/25
Children and Families Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- into current out as respectful process into current out as respectful to<00:38:07.280>
Providers< - She said there is an attendance process that will be on the Hub for the centers.
- to support relative kin through the licensing process.
- number two it equips relative process number two it equips relative kin<01:31:28.880>
caregivers< - welfare building the licensing process welfare building the licensing process to<01:39:23.480>
Keywords:
child maltreatment, child abuse, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, labor trafficking, human trafficking, child protection, local welfare agency, county social services, Minnesota Department of Human Services, judicial review, district court appeal, venue, out-of-state abuse, cross-border investigation, Minnesota child welfare, family assessment, maltreatment determination
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- projects going through CPCN process. projects going through CPCN process.
- where there's a bidding process.
- <01:33:30.080>
So, reverse auction process. So, reverse auction process. - auction process. auction process.
- the process of withdrawing from RGGI. the process of withdrawing from RGGI.
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, heard an invocation by Reverend J.C. Austin of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church, and journalized the prayer. Members also introduced several guests and interns, including a shadow from the 45th District, a Legislative Black Caucus fellow, a ninth-grade author from Annapolis High School, a World Autism Acceptance Day group in the gallery, and a student shadowing the Senator from District 30. The chamber then moved to House bills on second reading and Senate bills on third reading.
The Senate adopted favorable committee reports and passed several House bills without objection, including measures extending the Maryland Horse Industry Board sunset, requiring housing counseling information for certain first-time homebuyers, expanding the educator expense tax subtraction to full-time pre-K teachers, increasing funding for the State Library Resource Center, extending agricultural use assessment eligibility for community solar projects, allowing the Seat Pleasant Police Department to join the Law Enforcement Officers Pension System, authorizing changes to a tax sale legacy protection program, and granting special taxing authority for the Village of Drummond. The chamber also adopted seven amendments to Senate Bill 1007 on state debt authorizations and ordered it printed for third reading.
On final passage, Senate Bill 956 on Maryland Transportation Authority video toll collections passed with 44 affirmative votes. The Senate then took up Senate Bill 841, a major energy affordability and utility reform bill, with two committee amendments adopted. The bill was described as providing short-, medium-, and long-term rate relief, including changes to EmPOWER Maryland, utility cost recovery, data center tariffs, net metering, solar policy, transmission planning, battery storage, nuclear incentives, and low-income assistance. Debate began on the amended report, and a motion to lay the bill over was withdrawn while members discussed waiting on additional amendments.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on State and Local Government - Part 1 - 03/27/26
State and Local Government
Transcript Highlights:
- Proponents including its voluntary form.
- validated through a state process. validated through a state process.
- So, there's no effective appeal process.
- The proposed language offers process.
- , that they should have a consequence if they break that process.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (04/21/2026)
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- does that process work? does that process work?
- I love the legislative process. I love the legislative process. Okay. Okay. Okay.
- process for the retail- retailers. process for the retail- retailers.
- So, what is the process?
- process looked like this. process looked like this.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:58:02.680>
allowing streamlines the process allowing streamlines the process allowing - super fund program and the voluntary super fund program and the voluntary investigation<01:24:51.960
- <01:25:51.440>
what during the initial planning process what during the initial planning process - They do have a process to determine whether or not they're safe.
- <01:36:41.960>
does environmental assessment process does environmental assessment process
Keywords:
school calendar, education, school year, Labor Day, state law, school construction, landfill, dump site, closed landfill, contaminated site, pollution control agency, school siting, public school, charter school, environmental health, student safety, brownfield, solid waste, waste disposal site, site contamination
WY
Wyoming 2026 Regular Session
Senate Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions Committee, February 16, 2026
Corporations, Elections & Political Subdivisions
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:01:38.960>
I from as the bill goes as a process. - I from as the bill goes as a process.
- It's been a three-year process. 52. It's been a three-year process.
- ,<01:29:02.080>
often He meant a stubborn, voluntary, often He meant a stubborn, voluntary - The 5% statistical process perspective.
AR
Arkansas 2026 1st Special Session
EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE AND HOUSE May 18th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- If we're doing a good job with our early learning environments and voluntary pre-kindergarten, sometimes
- you can find children... ...and voluntary pre-kindergarten, sometimes you can find children, and there's
- And it's an ongoing process. But DNF schools have assigned a literacy coach for sure.
- But I'm trying to explain my question to see if I'm processing it correctly, I guess, is what I'm trying
- We're going to be set as part of the adequacy study review process.
Summary:
The committee first approved the March 9 and 10 minutes, then heard a presentation from the Arkansas Excellence in Teaching Fellowship Program featuring three third-grade teachers from Poyen, Drew Central, and Cabot, along with Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva. The teachers described the fellowship as a year-long collaboration among 23 merit-pay recipients from across the state, focused on sharing classroom strategies, data use, and professional support. Members asked about teacher experience, how the fellowship information is shared locally, the role of merit pay, and how teachers are addressing third-grade reading and retention concerns under the ATLAS assessment system. The teachers emphasized early intervention, relationships with students, small-group instruction, progress monitoring, and communication with families; they also described community supports such as churches, food backpacks, and local donations. Several members raised broader questions about poverty, trauma, social services, DHS involvement, and whether similar professional learning should be expanded to more teachers. Secretary Oliva said the fellowship is a small subset of a larger merit-pay program, that participation was voluntary, and that the state is working to improve literacy supports, clarity, and alignment across grades. He also said ATLAS results are now available to schools and families much faster than in the past, often within 24 to 72 hours, and that the state is using the data to identify at-risk students earlier and support intervention before retention decisions are made.
The committee then moved to the adequacy/resource allocation presentation from the Bureau of Legislative Research. Staff explained that the report is part of the statutory adequacy review and focuses on state funding sources beyond foundation aid, including categorical and supplemental funds. They noted that districts and charters spent more than $7 billion in the 2025 school year, with roughly 49% from foundation funding and 51% from other sources over the last three years. The presentation outlined the four categorical funds—Alternative Learning Environment, English Learners, Enhanced Student Achievement, and Professional Development—describing their restricted uses, student-based funding formulas, and the ability of districts to transfer some money among categoricals while keeping it within allowable purposes. Staff said categorical funds account for about 4% of total spending, or less than $300 million, and reviewed superintendent feedback on whether those funds met district needs, with responses varying by category and district.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee 2/26/26
Commerce Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- kind of processed via cryptocurrency kiosks. kiosks. kiosks.
- law that already defined processing law that already defined processing consent<01:20:18.560>
- privacy law already regulates processing privacy law already regulates processing and<01:21:43.520
- They have made it through the complete process and are in the final steps.
- go through a process laboratories um go through a process called<01:35:01.440>
method <01:35:01.840
Keywords:
virtual currency, kiosks, prohibition, customer payouts, cryptocurrency regulation, consumer privacy, data privacy, health data, sensitive data, Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act, personal data, data broker, targeted advertising, geofencing, location tracking, health care privacy, patient privacy, consent, minor privacy, children's privacy
Summary:
The Commerce Finance and Policy Committee met on House File 3642, which would prohibit virtual currency kiosks in Minnesota. The bill was laid over, and the committee adopted a DE1 author’s amendment. Chair Kaggel and Representative Perryman described the measure as a response to widespread scams using crypto kiosks, especially against older adults and other vulnerable people, and said they would continue working with the Department of Commerce and other stakeholders.
Testimony from law enforcement and advocates strongly supported the ban. A St. Cloud police sergeant and a Woodbury detective described cases in which victims lost large sums, said the current safeguards and refund rules are being bypassed, and argued that the kiosks are difficult to investigate because funds move quickly and often overseas. An AARP Minnesota volunteer also supported the bill, saying kiosks are a preferred tool for scammers and that existing protections have not kept pace with the problem. The Department of Commerce said it strongly supports the bill and reported that it has received 120 complaints over three years involving nearly $1 million in reported losses, with 2025 the worst year so far.
The main opposition came from CoinFlip’s general counsel, who argued that the problem is fraud generally, not kiosks themselves, and said Minnesota already has consumer protections, including refunds for eligible victims. He urged stronger regulation rather than a ban, citing blockchain analytics, hold periods, and 24-hour customer service as alternatives. Committee members then asked questions about how long kiosks have operated in Minnesota, how many there are, who owns them, and the scale of losses; Commerce said there are hundreds statewide, operated by a variety of companies, and that reported losses are likely undercounts.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- >
annual Relying solely on voluntary annual Relying solely on voluntary annual income<00:52:42.400 - quasi judicial or judicial process quasi judicial or judicial process overrides<01:05:42.480>
- That would trigger another IEP meeting to review the process.
- working group to accelerate a process. working group to accelerate a process.
- Certainly if review the process.