Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here, along with my peers, asking for your support and increases in minimum aid, and I mean... in
• I'm here, along with my peers, asking for your support and increases in minimum aid and I mean.
• We need the minimum per-pupil funding level to be increased to $150.
• The hold harmless minimum aid district designation, it doesn't work for any of them. Sorry.
• Hospitals report a minimum of 100 days. They cannot wait that long to free up a bed.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Ways and Means Committee held its final public hearing on the FY26 state budget, with chairs and members emphasizing that public testimony would help shape the budget and asking speakers to keep remarks brief. Committee leaders introduced members, explained the hearing process, and repeatedly thanked residents, students, and advocates for participating. No votes were taken during the hearing. Testimony focused heavily on education funding and the Chapter 70 formula. Students from Amherst, Northampton, Gateway Regional, Chester Elementary, and other districts described budget-driven cuts to electives, special education supports, paraprofessionals, counselors, transportation, and building maintenance. They urged higher Chapter 70 aid, increased minimum aid, rural school aid, and a reopening or restructuring of the funding formula, arguing that current formulas leave many districts unable to meet student needs and force local layoffs and overrides. Other speakers urged funding or protection for a range of programs and facilities, including the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute for homicide survivor services, the Museum of African American History, the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and CART/interpreter services, the Access to Counsel housing legal aid program, the Department of Mental Health and Pocasset Mental Health Center, and Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children. One speaker opposed offshore wind-related spending and urged a reset of the state’s energy approach, while another advocated ending the aircraft sales tax exemption. Committee members responded sympathetically to many speakers, asked a few follow-up questions, and several expressed support for maintaining or expanding the programs discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> And at the minimum, I would respectfully ask for a deferral on this bill.
• > I<00:50:04.200> I<00:50:04.320> would >> And at the minimum, I I would &
• gt;> And at the minimum, I I would respectfully<00:50:05.440> ask<00:50:06.040> for<
• If they don't pay minimum wage or overtime or they're not providing workers' comp, if it came to our
• If they don't pay minimum wage or Right?

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee began with resolutions HCR 93 and HR 85, which ask the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, in collaboration with the Department of the Attorney General, to form a working group and report on ways to strengthen protections for survivors of image-based sexual abuse. The Attorney General’s office said it could support the effort as legal counsel to the commission but preferred not to be an active working-group member, and suggested the Legislative Reference Bureau could instead conduct a nationwide study for stakeholders. The Commission on the Status of Women supported the resolutions but urged broader scope to include prevention and intervention, expanded stakeholder membership, keeping the Attorney General involved, and adjusting the report deadline. Testimony in support also came from the Emoa Alliance, which emphasized the prevalence and harms of image-based abuse and the need for stronger protections. Members asked questions about current criminal and civil remedies, reporting barriers, and whether the commission could administer the effort without the Attorney General; no votes were taken on the resolutions during the excerpted discussion. The committee then heard HCR 113 and HR 106, supporting the Native Hawaiian Intellectual Property Working Group’s request for more resources and a timeline extension to fiscal year 2026-2027. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs testified in support, saying Native Hawaiian culture, traditional knowledge, and cultural expressions are increasingly being commercialized and exploited without adequate protection, and that the working group needs more time, resources, and community consultation to complete its work. The committee noted six supporters and no opposition or comments. The hearing also covered HCR 193 and HR 183, which would establish a court security and Department of Law Enforcement capacity working group to address staffing shortages and the use of private security at state courts. The Judiciary supported the intent, asked that the working group supplement rather than replace its budget request, and proposed allowing the chair to add members with relevant experience. In response to questions, Judiciary said it has requested $3.25 million for armed private security, which it said would cover about 18 contracted individuals, though with significant company overhead. The committee then moved through several bills: SB 2667, which restricts certain commercial vehicles and trailers from the far-left lane on multi-lane roads, received support from the Department of Transportation; SB 2851, which allows deaf vehicle owners to register a deafness designation for law enforcement access, drew testimony in support; SB 2521, which updates emergency vehicle rules and exempts EMS personnel from CDL requirements, received testimony from Honolulu Emergency Services; and SB 2466, which would make the Chief Elections Officer terminable only for cause, drew support from the League of Women Voters and opposition from Hawaiian Islands Republican Women, who argued the change could reduce accountability and create election disruptions if litigation over termination occurs.

Transcript Highlights:

• Matt, for township funding over the years, we've had set minimum mill rates on the townships.
• Is there a minimum across the state? Mr.
• Chairman, Senator Luick, I would not say there's a minimum.
• But there is no minimum. When you look at the rate study, they're all across the board.
• So you're looking at a minimum of $100, you know, for an average use, $100 a month, assuming the 75%

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• No early serve their full sentence.
• <02:07:51.280> restrict will strengthen sentencing and restrict will strengthen sentencing
• It ensures consecutive sentencing for every victim of a violent crime.
• It ensures consecutive sentencing for every victim of a violent crime.
• It ensures consecutive sentencing for every victim of a violent crime.

Keywords: This version of the House chambers was retrieved from back up and uploaded. The original live stream contained issues where audio and video got out of sync., 958, all

Summary: The House convened with an invocation and pledge, established a quorum, approved the prior journal, and received committee reports on several bills. Reported measures included House Bills 1 and 2 from Appropriations and Revenue, along with bills on animal control officers, emergency services revenue, postsecondary education, proactive postsecondary admission, vehicle lights, motor vehicle operation, motor vehicle dealers, and machine gun conversion devices. The chamber also took up Senate Bills 52 and 124 for concurrence, and House Bill 1 was moved from rules to the orders of the day for immediate action. The House then considered House Bill 568, which would regulate public adjusters by prohibiting new licenses, allowing renewals for current licensees, imposing conflict-of-interest and contract requirements, capping fees at 5%, and barring adjusters from negotiating claims. Supporters described it as a consumer-protection measure responding to complaints and investigations, especially after recent storm-related exploitation. The bill passed overwhelmingly, 95-1. The House next debated House Bill 1, which would opt Kentucky into the federal education freedom tax credit program and authorize the Secretary of State to administer the state’s participation without using state general funds. Supporters argued it would bring federal scholarship dollars into Kentucky for K-12 students, including public school students, and could generate significant private donations for scholarship-granting organizations. Opponents raised concerns about shifting resources away from public education, the speed of the process, and a proposed waiver of Eleventh Amendment immunity. A motion to table the bill failed by a wide margin, and members continued debating the bill and its implications for public schools and state sovereignty.

Transcript Highlights:

• which result from the animal initially being taken into protective custody, so this sentence should
• Yeah, okay, so we don't need and vice versa, but I like the addition of the sentence.
• Yeah, okay, so we don't need and vice versa, but I like the addition of the sentence.
• yeah okay and that's only you sentence yeah okay and that's only you know<00:45:39.079> we<00
• That kind of replaces the first sentence. Yes, I think so.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee worked through a draft bill amending animal cruelty and protective custody provisions, focusing on how animals may be seized, cared for, and returned, and on what rights owners have when animals are taken. Members discussed adding language requiring officers to inform a charged person in writing of the right to petition for a veterinarian of their choice, clarifying that any documents presented for signature must be fully and honestly explained, and revising language so confiscated animals cannot be altered without notarized owner authorization. They also considered a new prohibition on using confiscated animals for fundraising or donations, ultimately preferring the term “financial gain” over “profiteering.” The discussion also covered protective custody procedures, including adding “municipal animal control officer” to the list of officers involved, allowing return of animals to the owner or caretaker if no charges have been filed or no warrant establishing probable cause has been sought or issued, and clarifying the distinction between criminal seizure and temporary protective custody. The commissioner’s comments led to several proposed deletions or revisions, including removing language viewed as redundant or inconsistent with protective custody, and striking references to live racing provisions that are no longer relevant. Members further addressed lactating animals, agreeing to add language that confiscated lactating animals should not be separated from their nonweaned offspring. They also discussed a proposed confidentiality provision requiring people assisting in investigations or taking possession of seized animals to sign a binding nondisclosure agreement, though members noted similar protections may need to be duplicated in the temporary custody section as well. The conversation was largely about drafting and legal clarity, with no final vote or formal action recorded in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, setting that minimum age at 21 at 21 isn't really going to hurt people that are mainly needing
• A bloated government, state government, false accusation, harsh sentence.
• false<01:09:39.120> accusation, false accusation, false accusation, harsh<01:09:41.000> sentence
• <01:09:42.160> A<01:09:42.279> well-trained<01:09:43.160> and harsh sentence
• A well-trained and harsh sentence.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The senator from Taylor seeks to add a sentence at the conclusion of the sentence in line 21, after the
• This is broader in the sense that it provides for not eligible for a suspended sentence or home, any
• And based on what's read here, your sentencing hearing, it's a 5 to 30.
• But there's no—the sentencing hearing is almost a formality.
• to go to trial if you give me a lower end of the sentence.

Keywords: 994, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > 20<01:16:22.719> years, David Dempsey, sentenced to 20 years, David Dempsey, sentenced
• Daniel<01:16:36.320> Joseph<01:16:36.800> Rodriguez<01:16:37.679> sentenced<01:16
• sentenced to 12 and<01:16:38.640> a<01:16:38.800> half<01:16:39.040> years and
• Stuart Rhodes, sentenced to 18 years, said this about patriots, using Donald Trump's word for them.
• I yield back. rearrested, charged, or sentenced for rearrested, charged, or sentenced for other<01:42

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Most pardons happen after someone has been sentenced, convicted, and served many years of a prison term
• These convicts were only, at most, within a couple of years of beginning the sentence, so this wasn't
• um uh so this wasn't about that sentence um uh so this wasn't about that it<00:28:11.880> was
• They were sentenced either to outside of incarceration or to incarceration.
• aggravating factors statements sentence aggravating factors statements from<01:10:42.600> victims

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As a result, he got sentenced to 12 days in juvenile jail.
• He was ultimately sentenced to two years of probation. That's it.
• On March 17, 2022, he pled guilty to these charges and received a juvenile life sentence.
• But somehow, four months later, he was freed from his juvenile life sentence.
• It's basically a life sentence, if you will. Are you hearing what I'm saying now?

Bills: HB1011, SCR11, SB41, SB49, SB107, SB123, SB224, SB292, SB425, SB479

Keywords: tax credits, higher education, workforce development, brain drain, economic incentives, public meeting minutes, transparency, government accountability, publication deadlines, open meetings, SB49, Louisiana elections, party primary, primary elections, BESE, State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, school board elections, election law, candidate qualification, ballot access

Summary: The House and Governmental Affairs Committee heard Senate Bill 123 by Sen. Morris, a proposed constitutional amendment to create a legislative-address process for removing certain judges for cause, with the governor certifying removal after a legislative vote and Senate trial. The bill was presented as a way to address perceived gaps and ambiguity in the current Constitution between impeachment provisions and the Judiciary Commission’s authority over judicial discipline. The committee also adopted a technical amendment (Amendment Set 4708) that renumbered paragraphs for clarity. Sen. Morris and supporters argued the measure is needed because current mechanisms have not adequately held judges accountable in serious cases. They cited several criminal cases, especially involving juveniles and electronic monitoring failures, and said the bill would provide a last-resort remedy for gross misconduct, incompetence, or malfeasance. Multiple family members of murder victims testified in support, including Anna Carter, James Carter, and Tracy Carter, who described the death of Jacob Carter and said the case showed a failure of oversight and accountability. Reverend Rodney Wood also spoke in support, describing another case he believed reflected a grave injustice. Committee members raised concerns about separation of powers, due process, political misuse, and whether the bill would reach beyond judges to district attorneys. Some questioned the mechanics of the proposed process, the role of the governor, the Senate trial, and whether the Judiciary Commission and existing impeachment provisions should instead be strengthened or clarified. The ACLU testified in opposition, saying the bill had technical inconsistencies in its vote threshold language, could be addressed by testing existing impeachment authority first, and should not single out judicial discretion while excluding DA discretion. No final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Appropriations; HB 1455, Appropriations; HB 1456, Appropriations; HB 1461, Appropriations; HB 1751, Death Sentence
• Choice; SCR 1049, Death Sentence Choice.
• Appropriations. 1751 death sentence choice.
• SCR 1049 desk sentence choice. 1751 death sentence choice. C.R. 1049, death sentence choice.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to SAP because I can't get in to complete the sentence.
• to SAP because I opposed to be sentenced to SAP because I can't<00:24:23.600> get<00:24:23.760
• can't get in to complete the sentence. can't get in to complete the sentence.
• program if nobody's going to sentencing program if nobody's going to accept<00:25:31.200> it<
• In many cases, like the judge mentioned, those are split sentences and they basically may say SAP and

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to allow these folks to work, some of them have to be paid less than minimum wage.
• <01:02:50.240> And<01:02:50.559> secondly, people under minimum wage.
• And secondly, people under minimum wage.
• The bill is a death sentence, and over 50,000 people will die as a result of it. You’ll see.
• The bill is a death sentence, and over 50,000 people will die as a result of it. You’ll see.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• at the following that last sentence at the following that last sentence which<00:50:21.040> we
• >> I just made that additional sentence that I read to you. >> What's your additional sentence?
• >> I I just made that additional sentence >> I I just made that additional sentence
• >> What What's your additional sentence? >> What What's your additional sentence?
• Nor was >> Let's clean that sentence up.

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:

• I do have one last sentence that you want to tell us, and one thing I will remind you as well as others
• I do have one last sentence that you want to tell us, and one thing I will remind you as well as others
• I do have one last sentence that you want to tell us, and one thing I will remind you as well as others
• go ahead you said um One Last Sentence go ahead you said we're<00:10:32.320> investing we're
• So one last sentence before we go to the next testifier: thank you, Chair.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've seen a judge who was sentencing juveniles as part of an elaborate scheme to juvenile detention
• 54.919> as<00:04:55.120> part<00:04:55.240> of<00:04:55.360> an was sentencing
• juveniles as part of an was sentencing juveniles as part of an elaborate<00:04:56.199> scheme
• talking dozens, if not hundreds, of people involved in the process that ultimately hands down the sentence
• talking dozens, if not hundreds, of people involved in the process that ultimately hands down the sentence

Keywords: Meeting Start: 00:00 Attendance Roll Call: 00:00 Senate Bill 126 (Sen. McDaniel): 01:21 Senate Bill 37 (Sen. Elkins): 12:23 Adjournment: 21:06, 958, all

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up two bills. Senate Bill 126, sponsored by Senator McDaniel, proposed a constitutional amendment to limit the governor’s pardon power during the final 60 days before a gubernatorial election and through the transition period, with the stated goal of giving voters more time to learn about executive clemency decisions. McDaniel said the measure was intended to increase accountability and noted it would need approval by both chambers and then placement on the 2026 ballot. Senator Haron raised concerns about whether the proposal could chill pardons and asked about the timing; McDaniel responded that 60 days was chosen because of early voting and the need for public notice. The committee adopted a substitute and then passed the bill with a favorable expression; several members voted aye, Senator Haron passed, and Senator Adams later asked to be recorded as voting aye before adjournment. The committee then considered Senate Bill 37, sponsored by Senator Elkins, which would amend Kentucky law on indigent burials to allow cremation as an option instead of requiring burial, and would require consultation with the county coroner before a decision is made. Elkins described it as a local control measure and said he was working with Rabbi Litman on a possible accommodation for Jewish indigent decedents, since the Jewish community strongly prefers burial and has offered to assume costs in those cases. Questions focused on how long officials must make a bona fide effort to notify a spouse or next of kin and whether the bill would affect current practices; Elkins said it would not change existing policy on that point and suggested a possible floor amendment for additional issues. Rabbi Litman testified in support, explaining the religious importance of burial and the community’s concern about cremation. The committee substitute was adopted, and the bill passed with a favorable expression, though Senator Herron and Senator Tichenor expressed reservations and voted no or passed, citing constituent concerns and the possibility that family members may later seek a burial place to visit.

Transcript Highlights:

• deception cases criminal sentencing deception cases criminal sentencing modification.<00:52:32.240
• , uh a longer significant sentence, uh a longer sentence<00:53:26.120> in<00:53:26.240> most
• in most cases if those factors sentence in most cases if those factors existed.
• prosecutors, and sentencing judges. prosecutors, and sentencing judges.
• judge, 30 days notice to sentencing judge, 30 days notice to the<01:34:21.400> victims.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The Public Safety Policy Conference Committee met on May 8, 2026, with all conferees present. The chair opened with decorum instructions, explained that the meeting was policy-only, and noted that no public testimony had been signed up. Members then introduced themselves, with several noting they were retiring at the end of the session or year. The committee adopted a series of provisions, mostly by unanimous voice vote, including House language on identity theft and financial crimes updates, supervision abatement and restitution considerations for corrections, protective-order enhancements for murder penalties, prediction markets, victim-notification requirements for plea and sentencing hearings, research data privacy, ignition interlock and impaired-driving license changes, DOC licensing and sanctions for juvenile/adult community-based residential facilities, criminal-conviction employment and licensing standards, jail medication procedures, domestic abuse law changes, and a grant-use extension for dual-status/crossover youth funding. Several items were described as technical or clarifying changes, while others updated law to address AI-related identity theft, foreign protective orders, victim privacy, and corrections oversight. The committee also heard discussion on a Senate provision allowing victims of domestic violence to petition for wireless account and phone-number transfers. A witness supported the concept but urged changes to better align the state language with existing federal law; members noted the issue might need another vehicle or further work. For the domestic abuse item, staff explained that an A15 amendment would later adjust the warrantless-arrest window from 28 days to 14 days. On the jail-medication item, a member emphasized the changes were clarifying and not an admission that last year’s law was flawed. All adopted provisions passed by voice vote without opposition.

Transcript Highlights:

• section 256B.04, subdivision 21, and then all of the paragraphs, and some are broken down at the sentence
• to make sure we do everything we can so that providers know what they should be doing at the very minimum
• what what they should be doing at the what what they should be doing at the very<01:13:15.360> minimum
• c> just<01:13:15.960> because<01:13:16.200> it<01:13:16.280> hasn't very minimum
• just because it hasn't very minimum just because it hasn't worked<01:13:16.720> for<01:13:17.040

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But then all of a sudden, the HFCs which were down to the very minimum have jumped to over 60.
• Had the Arlington HFC pursued this transaction, it would have at a minimum negotiated a payment in lieu
• I'm sorry, I was about to get to that in my next sentence but we are here in neutral on the bill.
• We are standing in a city where the living wage would be $25 an hour, but minimum wage is still $7.50
• These are bare minimums for a decent quality of life.

Bills: HB21, HB211, HB223

Keywords: HB 21, Texas Tax Code, ad valorem tax, property tax, delinquent taxes, tax delinquency, penalty reduction, interest rate, split payment, installment payment, tax relief, county tax collector, taxing unit, property owner, tax collection, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax increase election, supermajority, 60 percent threshold

Transcript Highlights:

• To demonstrate what it could look like to the taxpayer when the following sentence is added to the school
• The sentence that I have inserted is highlighted in pink and it's on the second page of exhibit 2, and
• Uh, I'm gonna use exhibit two, that, that sentence you read that you highlighted on our pages.
• The school district will be responsible for, uh, that sentence doesn't exist, so I, I added that sentence
• The language of putting this particular sentence on the property tax bill is, uh, real estate that didn't

Bills: HB195, HB247, HB255, HJR6, HJR31, HJR34

Keywords: HB 195, Texas Controlled Substances Act, Schedule IV, controlled substances, mifepristone, misoprostol, carisoprodol, Health and Safety Code, drug scheduling, pharmacy regulation, prescription drugs, reproductive health, abortion medication, medication abortion, women's health, prescribing, dispensing, law enforcement, drug control, education reform