Transcript Highlights:

• We have the president of the American Library Association, Sam Hemlick, and she is joining us via Zoom
• American have the president of the American Library<00:02:12.480> Association,<00:02:13.920> Sam
• <00:02:14.400> Hemlick,<00:02:15.360> and Library Association, Sam Hemlick, and Library
• Association, Sam Hemlick, and she<00:02:16.000> is<00:02:16.160> joining<00:02:16.560>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, my name is Sam Hawkins.
• record,<01:11:43.440> my<01:11:43.600> name<01:11:43.679> is<01:11:43.840> Sam
• Uh for the record, my name is Sam today.
• Uh for the record, my name is Sam Hawkins.<01:11:44.480> I'm<01:11:44.640> here<01:11:44.800

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sam Hawkins. Good afternoon, Chair. Good afternoon, Chairman Gray, members of the committee.
• For the record, my name is Sam Hawkins.
• Sam Bridges. >> Good afternoon, members of the committee. My name is Sam Burgess.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sam Evans Brown, executive director of Clean Air New Hampshire.
• Um<01:08:29.440> Sam<01:08:29.679> Evans<01:08:30.080> Brown,<01:08:30.400> executive
• <01:08:30.719> director Um Sam Evans Brown, executive director Um Sam Evans Brown, executive

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sam Ziggler. Um, thank you, Mr. Chair. Um, and members, good afternoon.
• <00:30:22.640> Sam testimony when you're ready. Sam testimony when you're ready.
• Sam Ziggler.<00:30:23.840> Um<00:30:24.799> thank<00:30:24.880> you,<00:30:25.120

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I am Sam Dit, state government affairs director for the Brewers Association, the 501(c)(6) national trade
• I am Sam Dit, state government affairs director for the Brewers Association, the 501(c)(6) national trade
• I am Sam Dit, state government affairs director for the Brewers Association, the 501(c)(6) national trade
• I think Garrett and Steve, as well as Sam, mentioned really eloquently points on that.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint Senate committees heard HB 108 HD2, which would allow direct shipment of beer and distilled spirits by certain licensees and require liquor commissions to adopt rules. Most testimony came from craft brewers and distillers in support, who said the bill would help small and fragile producers reach customers, move limited or specialty products that wholesalers do not carry, and maintain relationships with visitors after they leave Hawaii. Supporters also argued that direct-to-consumer shipping would not meaningfully increase underage access because common carriers age-gate deliveries and require adult signatures, and that the measure would supplement rather than replace the three-tier system. Opposition came from the Hawaii Food Industry Association and the Hawaii Liquor Wholesalers Association, which said the bill could create problems with minor access and tax revenue and would allow out-of-state manufacturers to ship directly to Hawaii households. Supporters responded that similar concerns were raised when wine direct shipping was adopted and said the existing shipping and reporting systems can track and tax these sales. Several witnesses, including Maui Brewing, Ola Brew, Koloa Rum, Hana Rum, Koulana Rumworks, Koval Distillery, and the Brewers Association, described their small-batch operations, limited distribution options, and the potential for direct shipping to expand sales and jobs. Committee members questioned witnesses about underage access, tax collection, and the impact on the three-tier system. One witness discussed efforts to protect and potentially scale the Hawaiian spirit Okolehao through geographic and sourcing rules. The transcript does not show a final vote or disposition on HB 108 HD2 in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• We also lost Savannah Ryan Williams, a Two-Spirit and Latina relative, and Sam Nordquist just this fall
• spirit and Savannah Ryan Williams a two spirit and Latina<01:24:47.920> relative<01:24:48.920> Sam
• <01:24:49.280> nordquest<01:24:50.040> just<01:24:50.800> this Latina relative Sam
• nordquest just this Latina relative Sam nordquest just this fall<01:24:51.520> a<01:24:51.679

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• I also extend my thanks to Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves for his help in bringing
• Transportation extend my thanks to Transportation infrastructure<04:34:54.840> chairman<04:34:55.160> Sam
• <04:34:55.439> Graves<04:34:56.119> for infrastructure chairman Sam Graves for infrastructure
• chairman Sam Graves for his<04:34:56.520> help<04:34:56.760> in<04:34:56.879> bringing

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 3, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm Casey Peterson, subbing for Sam Moyer for Greg Davids, District 26B. taxes one because I hear we
• Peterson subbing for people I'm Casey Peterson subbing for today<00:06:16.000> for<00:06:16.199> Sam
• today for Sam today for Sam Moyer<00:06:18.400> uh<00:06:18.560> Greg<00:06:18.840

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We recessed and then Sam went over to Senator Wicklund and to Senator Retke and explained everything
• We recessed and then Sam went over to Senator Wicklund and to Senator Retke and explained everything,
• We<01:11:16.600> recessed<01:11:17.080> and<01:11:17.160> then<01:11:17.560> Sam
• c><01:11:17.960> went<01:11:18.120> over<01:11:18.360> to We recessed and then Sam
• went over to We recessed and then Sam went over to um<01:11:19.800> Senator<01:11:20.240>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• This is often referred to as Son of Sam legislation, and you may be familiar with that because New York
• this is often referred to as the<00:52:39.359> Son<00:52:39.559> of<00:52:39.720> Sam
• legislation<00:52:41.319> and<00:52:41.640> uh<00:52:41.720> you the Son of Sam
• legislation and uh you the Son of Sam legislation and uh you may<00:52:41.960> be<00:52:42.119
• Senator Sullivan brought up the Son of Sam law, which anyone who followed the court battles on getting

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy and an active member
• others like my father Michael and Thomas Figures, General Gary Cooper, Lonnie Johnson, Ivon Kennedy, Sam
• 36:06.160> Johnson,<00:36:06.640> Ivon<00:36:07.040> Kennedy,<00:36:07.520> Sam
• <00:36:07.839> Jones Lonnie Johnson, Ivon Kennedy, Sam Jones Lonnie Johnson, Ivon Kennedy,
• Sam Jones and<00:36:08.880> this<00:36:09.119> body's<00:36:09.520> very<00:36:

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For the record, my name is Sam Hawkins.
• Chair. >> [clears throat] >> [clears throat] >> [clears throat] Thank you, Sam, for taking my question
• >> Thank you, Sam, for taking my question.
• >> Thank you, Sam, for taking my question.
• Um, I'm Sam I am Ellsworth. Thank you.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I say this: remember there's a guy, former Governor Sam Adams, he brewed beer.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House and Senate met in joint convention for the Governor’s annual State of the Commonwealth address. Before the address, the chamber handled routine organizational motions, including recesses, the appointment of committees to escort the Lieutenant Governor, constitutional officers, and the Governor into the chamber, the posting of colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, the national anthem, and an invocation and benediction. The joint convention then heard Governor Maura Healey’s address, followed by remarks from legislative leaders and a closing benediction. In her speech, Governor Healey said the state is strong and highlighted accomplishments from the past session, including tax cuts, expanded child care support, the Affordable Homes Act, transportation improvements, federal funding gains, veterans’ services, and health care measures. She also emphasized ongoing priorities such as reducing housing costs, improving transit and infrastructure, expanding primary care and mental health services, supporting education and career pathways, strengthening clean energy and AI investment, and protecting reproductive health care. She called for abolishing tenant broker’s fees, creating a statewide graduation standards council after the MCAS requirement change, and continuing efforts to address the emergency shelter system and other cost pressures. No roll call votes were taken on legislation during the address itself, but the convention adopted the various ceremonial orders and motions by voice vote. After the Governor’s remarks and the benediction, the joint convention adjourned, and the House later adjourned to meet the following Tuesday in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sam Sparrow, fiscal director for the Commissioner of State Lands.

Summary: The committee considered a series of appropriation, fund transfer, and reserve requests across multiple agencies. Section B temporary appropriations included funding for state technology upgrades, personnel management staffing and IT skills assessment, court reporters and interpreters, crime victim claims, juvenile sex offender assessments, radiation lab testing, and higher education workforce grants and credentialing pathways. Additional items covered an ARPA grant for the University of Arkansas Fort Smith LPN program, an IIJA grant for the Oil and Gas Commission’s critical minerals work, a restricted reserve transfer for State Police vehicle purchases, a transfer to the Arkansas Heroes Program, and cash fund requests for the Real Estate Commission’s AV system and HVAC work. Most of these items were approved by voice vote. One budget classification transfer request from the Commissioner of State Lands drew extended questioning and was ultimately not approved. Members questioned the $250,000 transfer to operating expenses tied to the purchase of a West Little Rock office building, the ongoing lease costs at the prior location, and whether the agency had adequately planned for building-related expenses. After discussion, the motion failed, and members told the agency to tighten spending and return if needed. The committee then took up 15 pay plan appropriation requests totaling $25.7 million and approved them after discussion with DFA, DHS, Corrections, and the State Board of Election Commissioners. Members focused heavily on DHS staffing shortages at human development centers, where officials said vacancies and turnover were driven by overtime and burnout rather than pay alone; one member asked DHS to submit a written plan to address the issue. Corrections reported the pay plan had improved hiring and retention. The committee also approved overtime appropriations for Emergency Management and Military. Reports on reserve funds, the Budget Stabilization Trust Fund, tobacco settlement, State Central Services, Education Adequacy, Medicaid Trust, IIJA, and revenue transfer activity were received. The Medicaid Trust Fund report prompted significant concern about February’s $90 million draw; DHS said the month was unusually high because of cash-flow timing and that the fund should end the year with a balance between $150 million and $200 million, while lawmakers noted a second $100 million set-aside is planned for FY27. The final discussion centered on DHS’s state hospital damage claim and reconstruction funding, where members expressed disappointment that insurance reimbursement would likely return only about $1.8 million now and possibly about $97,000 more later, far less than the roughly $5 million initially expected. DHS explained the policy was based on actual cash value and depreciation for old buildings, and said the work would proceed on Unit 3 for secured restoration because it was the most cost-effective option.

Transcript Highlights:

• Good afternoon, Chair and members of the board, and that's my name Sam and Loyah.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee heard several bills and a memorial focused on foreign law, land ownership, presidential electors, and campaign finance/federalism. SB 1018 would amend Arizona’s foreign-law statute to explicitly include Sharia law; the sponsor and supporters said it was needed to prevent foreign legal systems from influencing Arizona courts, while opponents from the ACLU and others argued it singled out Islam, was unnecessary because foreign law is already prohibited, and would be unconstitutional. After debate, the committee recommended SB 1018 do pass by a 4-3 vote. The committee then considered SB 1075, which restricts conveyance of Arizona land to foreign entities deemed hostile to the United States and adds disclosure, penalty, and enforcement provisions through a five-page amendment. The sponsor said it was modeled on other states’ efforts to keep adversarial nations from acquiring land near sensitive sites; the committee adopted the amendment and recommended the bill as amended do pass by a 3-3 vote. SB 1141, dealing with presidential electors, would require electors to vote for a properly nominated successor if a winning presidential or vice presidential candidate dies or withdraws before the Electoral College meets, and would deem an elector’s office vacant if the elector fails to vote. Supporters said it closes a gap in Arizona law and improves election continuity; it received a unanimous do pass recommendation. Finally, the committee heard SCM 1003, a memorial urging Congress to support federalism and a constitutional amendment affirming state authority over election processes and campaign finance. Supporters argued that money in politics and out-of-state or international influence have grown too large and that states should regain more control; some members noted concerns about the rhetoric around ActBlue and other groups but still supported the memorial’s general purpose. SCM 1003 received a unanimous do pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• They could then, right, put a grant out to whatever, Williams County or Sam Bramber.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The House Appropriations Government Operations section reconvened and first took up an amendment for the Industrial Commission related to a proposed west-to-east natural gas pipeline. Members discussed increasing the state’s capacity commitment from $60 million to $120 million so the project could move forward and support a future FERC permit, with supporters citing growing demand from data centers, agricultural users, and oilfield gas capture needs. The committee also discussed a separate motion to exempt the mill and elevator from the vacant FTE pool; that motion failed on a roll call vote. The committee then reviewed other Industrial Commission items, including housing authority funding, the abandoned well fund, Bank of North Dakota-related changes, and a decision not to add more to litigation funding. The discussion then shifted to the Department of Transportation budget and a major transportation funding framework. Speaker Weiss explained a proposal to consolidate and rework transportation funding into fewer buckets, including moving Prairie Dog-style funding into the flexible transportation fund, adding $370 million to that fund, and providing $171.3 million for federal match needs. The plan also included $50 million for statewide discretionary projects, $50 million for bridges, and grant flexibility for cities, counties, and townships, with some debate over eligibility thresholds and how much discretion DOT should have in awarding grants. Members also discussed whether small communities could realistically apply for grants and how the new structure would coordinate statewide transportation investments. Additional DOT topics included a proposed gas tax increase, changes to distribution percentages among DOT, cities/counties, townships, and transit, and the treatment of electric vehicle registration fees. The committee noted that transit funding would rise under the formula and that EV registration fees would continue to flow into the highway distribution fund. No final action was taken on the broader DOT package during this portion of the meeting, but members agreed to continue work on the amendment and revisit the issue the next day, with a suggestion to brief the caucus before floor action.

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Next is Sean Gold are speaking against Sam. Maybe don't want. All right.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• LISA IN SUPPORT, SCOTT TURNER IN SUPPORT, DELLA ABBOTT IN SUPPORT, SAM FISHER LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Sam Kierce. Thank you. I appreciate you, Chair. Mr. Kars? Yes, thank you, Chair. C.M. Kierce.

Summary: The Joint Administrative Procedures Committee heard a presentation from Representative Esposito on a proposal to strengthen oversight of agency rulemaking under Chapter 120. The bill would require cost-benefit analysis at the front end and after implementation, create an eight-year sunset and review process for rules, and require express legislative authority for agency rulemaking. Members questioned the lack of concrete examples of burdensome rules, the effect on already slow rulemaking, the choice of an eight-year sunset, and the bill’s origin; Esposito said she was working with stakeholders and cited her chamber-of-commerce background and research with the Cicero Institute. No vote was taken on the bill itself. Staff then reported on legislatively mandated rulemaking from 2023 and 2024, noting that most required rules had been adopted, proposed, noticed, or scheduled, with a few agencies still outstanding. The Department of Financial Services explained a delayed notice of rule development for the MySafe Florida Home condominium pilot program as an oversight that has since been corrected, and the Department of Education said it did not proceed with rulemaking for the Fostering Prosperity grants because the program received no funding in the 2025 budget. The Department of Health described delayed rulemaking for the sickle cell disease and trait registry, saying the registry and opt-out forms were being implemented and that notices of rule development had now been filed. Members pressed the department on why rules took so long and discussed the need for statutory deadlines. The Department of Children and Families reported on two 2023 human-trafficking-related rules: signage requirements for residential treatment facilities and children’s safe homes, and a new certification process for adult safe homes. DCF said the signage rule is now moving forward and the adult safe home certification rule has been submitted for final review after workshops and stakeholder feedback. Senators questioned the lengthy timeline and the lack of oversight during the interim, while the chair emphasized the need for time-certain deadlines in legislation and for JAPAC oversight hearings. The committee also considered staff-proposed amendments to Chapter 120 addressing emergency rules pending legislative ratification and the process for initiating ratification, including a one-year limit and notice to JAPAC. After discussion, the committee voted to forward the proposed amendments to the Senate President and House Speaker. Finally, members discussed a proposed amendment to the administrative law judge appointment and retention process under Section 120.65. DOAH’s interim director opposed the change, saying ALJs and workers’ compensation judges have different functions and warning against shifting appointment power to cabinet officers whose agencies appear before DOAH. Members raised concerns about timeliness, consistency, and accountability in DOAH decisions. The committee voted to forward this proposal as well, with Senator Smith voting no on that motion.