Video & Transcript : 'senate staff' :
Page 94 of 500
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- We're going to start with Senator Pappas and Senate File 4075, and I will ask Senate Counsel, Ms.
- </c> Senator<00:04:32.360><c> Pratt.</c> Senator Pratt. Senator Pratt.
- </c> Chair: Senator Putnam, do you want to walk through your bill and then maybe staff can go through
- Now, Senator Putnam, you can describe all the bill or just the portions you brought here, and then staff
- moves Senate File 4807, as amended, be recommended to pass and instruct the staff to make any technical
Committee:
Senate Finance
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator<00:09:12.000><c> Pratt.</c> Senator Pratt. Senator Pratt.
- With that, staff will take the roll. Staff will take the roll. Senator Marty: No.
- Senator Franzen: No. Senator Pratt: Yes. Senator Champion: No. Senator Draheim: Yes.
- Senator Howe: I. Senator Jasinski: I. Senator Johnson: Yes. Senator Mohamed: Yes.
- Senator Murphy: No. Senator Pappas: No. Senator Wiklund: No.
Committee:
Senate Finance
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Weber Pierson. Thank you. Senator Weber Pierson. Thank you, thank you.
- Thank you, Senator Laird, for your clarity. Okay. Any other comments? Senator Neal.
- Thank you, Senator Reyes. Senator Grove, waiting very patiently. Thank you.
- Thank you, Senator Reyes. Senator Grove, waiting very patiently. When ready, go ahead.
- with my staff on amendments.
Committee:
Senate Human Services
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Floor Session Apr 20th, 2026
California Senate Floor Meeting
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- The Senate Committee on Appropriations will now come to order.
- The Senate Committee on Appropriations will now come to order.
- Thank you, Senator Cabaldon.
- We have a motion by Senator Grayson. Senator Grayson. Senator Cabaldon, would you like to close?
- The motion is due pass to the Senate floor. Chair? Daly?
Committee:
Senate Appropriations
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Professions and Economic Development Committee Apr 20th, 2026
Business, Professions and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- We have a motion from Senator Archuleta. Senator, you can close.
- Senator Niello, would you be able to let Senator Allen go ahead of you? I apologize.
- Seeing none, Senator, would you like to close? Okay. Senator Niello. Just a quick question.
- by Senator Niello, SB 993.
- SB 1297 by Senator Allen. Motion is due pass to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection Committee Apr 20th, 2026
Privacy, Digital Technologies, and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Seyardo.
- Senator Seyardo.
- Senator Sejardo, do you have one? Yes, Senator Reyes.
- Senator Gonzalez. Senator Gonzalez, thank you.
- I think it was Senator Ray. Senator Ray is so sorry. Back to me afterwards. Okay, Senator Reyes.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Apr 20th, 2026
Military and Veterans Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- Madam Secretary, Senator Archuleta here. Senator Grove here. Senator McNerney here.
- Senator Mingevar, and Senator Umberg?
- Senator Grove here, Senator McNerney, Senator Menjivar, and Senator Umberg. Good.
- Senator Archuleta here? Senator McNerney, Senator Mingevar, and Senator Umberg? Okay.
- Senator McNerney? Senator McNerney, aye. Senator Umber? Aye. Senator Umber, aye.
Committee:
Senate Military and Veterans Affairs
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Photos from the Minnesota Senate - Volume 7, 2026 Apr 18th, 2026
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Okay, we also have Senator Kanuha, but we lost Senator Keohokalole.
- Or state does Or Senate doesn't need.
- Senator Favela. Any NWRs are no's of the Senator Favela.
- </c> send a draft one only excuse Senator send a draft one only excuse Senator Favela.<00:12:50.040><
- </c><00:13:06.600><c> Any</c> Senator Favela. All members present. Any Senator Favela.
Committee:
Senate Health and Human Services
Summary:
The Senate Health and Human Services Committee met on April 17, 2026, and heard testimony on several concurrent resolutions. HCR 18 would request the Department of Health to convene a hospice working group; the Department testified in opposition, saying its enforcement role created a conflict of interest and that the work exceeded its compliance-focused scope. The measure’s introducer proposed amendments to have a legislator, rather than DOH, chair the group and to remove a date restriction on hospices. The committee later recommended HCR 18 be passed with amendments.
HCR 32 sought a plan to increase access to the Hawaii State Hospital for certain mentally ill criminal defendants. The Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration and the governor’s office indicated support or willingness to work on the issue, while the ACLU provided comments and OHA supported the measure. The committee recommended passage with technical amendments. HCR 35, on an audit of the social and financial effects of mandatory insurance coverage for biomarker testing, drew broad support from medical, patient advocacy, and professional organizations, and a surgical oncologist testified in favor, emphasizing the importance of biomarker testing for cancer treatment. The committee recommended passage as is.
HCR 105 asked the Hawaii State Center for Nursing to compile recommended safe patient staffing ratios and maintain a repository; the Center said it had already begun the work and was happy to continue, and the committee adopted an amendment changing the focus from “ratios” to “strategies and ratios” before recommending passage. HCR 173 urged Maui Health to work with stakeholders to establish a full-time medical residency program on Maui; testimony supported the idea as a way to formalize and expand an existing informal program and improve local health care access, including maternity care. The committee recommended HCR 173 pass with technical amendments. All recommendations were adopted without objection, and the meeting adjourned.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Ihara is excused. Senator Moriwaki is also excused. Senator Fevella? >> Aye.
Committee:
Senate Labor and Technology
Summary:
The Senate Labor and Technology Committee met on April 17, 2026, and considered HCR 112, which asks the Department of Human Resources Development to work with state departments, agencies, and labor organizations to complete a comprehensive review of classification and compensation systems for civil service positions. DHRD, represented by Malia Donlon on behalf of Director Chiba, testified in support, and HGEA also supported the measure. No opposition was noted.
The committee initially recessed to obtain a quorum before taking action. After reconvening, the chair recommended passing HCR 112 unamended. The committee voted to adopt the recommendation, with the chair, Vice Chair Lamosao, and Senator Fevella voting aye; Senators Ihara and Moriwaki were excused. The meeting then adjourned.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Go ahead, Senator Gabbard.
- Go ahead, Senator one? Yeah, I got one. Go ahead, Senator Gabbard. Gabbard. Gabbard.
- Senator Chang. Aye. Senator San Buenaventura is excused. And Senator Auwae. Aye.
- If not, Senator<00:09:48.800><c> Gabbard.
- On GM 778, Chair's Senator Gabbard.
Committee:
Senate Judiciary
Summary:
The Judiciary Committee held a Governor’s Message hearing on two nominations. For GM 750, Tracy Fujita was nominated to the Commission to Promote Uniform Legislation for a term ending June 30, 2030. Testimony in support came from several officials and commission members, including the Deputy Attorney General, Maui Behavioral Health Resources CEO Nicole Hokoana, Maui Council Chair Alice Lee, and Uniform Law Commission members. Fujita said her county-level legislative law background at the Department of Corporation Counsel and Office of Council Services would help her serve, and she expressed particular interest in health care legislation. For GM 778, Jessica Schafer was nominated to the Commission on the Status of Women for a term ending June 30, 2030. Support testimony came from Commission Executive Director Yasmin Chaney and multiple others. Schafer said her background includes prosecuting domestic violence cases, working in a human trafficking clinic, investigating sexual misconduct in higher education, and leading gender-based violence programming at the University of Hawaii; she said she is especially interested in sexual and gender-based violence issues but is open to broader commission work.
After questioning, the committee moved to decision-making on both nominations. The chair recommended advise and consent for each, and the committee adopted both measures without any no votes or reservations. The meeting then adjourned.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Fukunaga, thank you. And good afternoon, Senator Hashimoto. >> Some good.
- </c> >> thank you, Senator Kona. >> thank you, Senator Kona.
- Senator Kim. >> Yes.
- >> Senator<02:34:11.359><c> Kani,</c> >> Senator Kani, >> Senator Kani, >> I<
- >> Senator<02:40:35.600><c> Kedani.</c> >> Senator Kedani. >> Senator Kedani.
Committee:
Senate Education
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
HOU, EIG-HOU Public Hearings 04-16-2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Elefante, aye. Senator Rhoads, aye. Senator Fevella is excused.
- Senator Elefante? Senator Rhodes? >> Senator Favela is excused. Chair recommendation is adopted.
- Senator DeCoite? Vice Chair votes aye. Senator DeCoite? Aye. Aye. Aye.
- Senator Elefante?<00:34:02.800><c> Senator</c><00:34:03.040><c> Rhodes?</c> Elefante?
- Senator Rhodes? Elefante? Senator Rhodes?
Summary:
The Committee on Housing heard and acted on three measures related to the Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation (HHFDC) and affordable housing policy. First, it considered GM 681, the nomination of Garth Yamanaka to the HHFDC Board of Directors. Yamanaka testified that he supports using all available tools to increase housing production, including open space and park dedication where feasible, more revenue-neutral and workforce housing, and a broad mix of housing types. Senators questioned him on priorities such as perpetual affordability, state- and county-owned projects, and whether HHFDC should focus more on revenue-neutral housing; he generally supported greater flexibility and more options, while emphasizing the need to consider feasibility and local market needs. The committee recommended GM 681 for advise and consent and adopted that recommendation unanimously, with Senator Fevella excused.
The committee then heard GM 764, the nomination of Susan Coons to the HHFDC Board. Coons said she supports prioritizing state and government lands for affordable housing but stressed that the government cannot solve the housing shortage alone and should continue to engage private and nonprofit partners. In response to questions, she said HHFDC should give greater priority to perpetual affordability and could potentially devote more resources to revenue-neutral, income-blind housing, but she cautioned against blanket policies and said decisions should be guided by data, community needs, and project readiness. She also supported the idea of a 100,000-unit housing plan and said HHFDC should focus on more specific policies and projects. The committee recommended GM 764 for advise and consent and adopted the recommendation.
Finally, the committee considered HCR 83, which supports using the dwelling unit revolving fund for pre-development costs through interim loans for government affordable housing projects. HHFDC testified in support and explained that it already has authority to make pre-development loans, but the resolution would provide policy support and comfort to the board. Members asked about loan security and default; HHFDC said such loans would typically be secured by land collateral and that it would not expect to forgive the loans. The committee agreed to pass the resolution with amendments, including adding committee report language about default and collateral and noting HHFDC’s existing authority. In a joint portion with the Committee on Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs, the committees also took up HCR 98 HD1 and recommended it pass with amendments to clarify that the countywide housing pattern book applies only to the City and County of Honolulu and involves collaboration between Honolulu housing and planning agencies. All recommendations were adopted, and the hearing adjourned.
HI
Hawaii 2026 Regular Session
HHS, HHS DEFER, HHS DEFER Public Hearings 04-16-2026
Transcript Highlights:
- And I agree, Senator.
- >> Senator. >> Senator. >> Senator.
- Only excused Senator Favela. Senator Dela Cruz votes no. All other members present.
- Senator Dela Cruz votes no. All other Senator Dela Cruz votes no.
- Only excused Senator Favela. consent. Only excused Senator Favela.
Summary:
The Health and Human Services committee heard and considered several gubernatorial nominations to advisory boards and councils. Early in the meeting, members heard testimony in support of Miriam Chang for the Health Planning Council Windward O‘ahu subarea, with supporters highlighting her long medical practice on the Windward side, work at Ko‘olau Health Center, and community involvement. Chang said she wanted to help improve health, especially in rural areas. The committee also heard support for Terrilyn Luke’s nomination to the Center for Nursing Advisory Board; the Center for Nursing director and nursing organizations backed her, and Luke said she would bring a front-line nursing perspective, focus on workforce conditions, retention, and collaboration, and help address tensions between the Center and nursing labor groups. The committee then heard support for Valerie Rose’s nomination to the Language Access Advisory Council; Rose briefly noted her prior work in the Chronic Disease Branch and Bilingual Health Aide Section.
The committee also took up nominations in a later agenda segment. James Montgomery was heard for the State Rehabilitation Council and described his interest in serving based on a family experience with disability and his work in talent management, saying he wanted to help people with disabilities gain opportunities. Kevin Nakamura was heard for the Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Wastewater Treatment Plants and said his 30-plus years of wastewater experience would help ensure operators are properly trained and certified to protect resources and the environment. Pina Lemusu was heard for the State Council on Developmental Disabilities; she said her long career with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and personal experience with disability would help her contribute to the council. Additional testimony in support came from the State DD Council and Voc Rehab representatives.
The committee voted to recommend advise and consent on the nominations it considered, including Miriam Chang, Terrilyn Luke, Valerie Rose, James Montgomery, Kevin Nakamura, and Pina Lemusu. Most recommendations were adopted without objection, though Senator Dela Cruz voted no on some of the later nominations. The meeting also briefly noted another nomination, Olivia Kim, which was recalled and advanced with an advise-and-consent recommendation before adjournment.
HI
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator<00:36:58.600><c> Lamasao.</c> Senator Lamasao. Senator Lamasao. >> Aye. >> Aye.
- Senator<00:37:00.920><c> McKelvey.</c> Senator McKelvey. Senator McKelvey.
- Senator<01:31:01.360><c> Lee.</c> Senator Lee. Senator Lee. Uh<01:31:02.440><c> thanks.
- Senator LeMahieu. Aye. also votes aye. Senator LeMahieu. Aye. Senator<01:45:16.800><c> McKelvey.
- Senator McKelvey. Yes. Senator Awana. Aye. Aye. Aye.
Committee:
Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection
Summary:
The Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee heard and considered a long list of Governor’s messages for appointments to state boards and commissions, including the Board of Dentistry, Barbering and Cosmetology, Speech Pathology and Audiology, Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board, Elevator Mechanics Licensing Board, Real Estate Commission, Board of Naturopathic Medicine, State Boxing Commission, Board of Professional Engineers, Architects, Surveyors and Landscape Architects, Hawaii Medical Board, Board of Physical Therapy, Board of Pharmacy, and the Public Utilities Commission. Most nominees and supporting agencies testified in support, and many nominees simply stood on their written testimony. Several nominees also answered questions about their experience and the issues facing their boards, including dental insurance and Medicaid concerns, condo and real estate disputes, pharmacy regulation and telepharmacy, boxing and MMA rule updates, and medical board service in rural areas.
The committee discussed some contested or notable nominations in more detail. Richard Emery’s nomination to the Real Estate Commission drew opposition testimony tied to a condo management dispute, and he responded by emphasizing the need for factual evidence, mediation and complaint data, and better consumer education. Trinette Kahui and Andrea Ushijima were also nominated to the Real Estate Commission, with broad support. For the Boxing Commission, Robin Jumawan described ongoing statutory updates, MMA-related work, and delegation of amateur boxing rules. For the Hawaii Medical Board, Elizabeth Ignacio was strongly endorsed by state and industry witnesses as highly qualified and familiar with rural health issues, while Rebecca Sawai also received support from the board and Kaiser Permanente.
In the decision-making portion, the committee moved to advise and consent to nearly all nominees on the agenda. Senator McKelvey stated reservations about Richard Emery due to opposition and possible conflicts, and also about nominees who were not present at the hearing, specifically Corrine Muldrow Soto and Stacie Kealoha Inouye; Senator Lamasao also noted reservations on those absent nominees. The chair disclosed personal acquaintance with Dr. Sawai and Andrea Ushijima. The committee then voted to adopt the recommendations, with the noted reservations and one no vote on GM 697 reflected in the record, and later reconvened to take up Governor’s Message 514/515 for John Etemura as chairperson of the Public Utilities Commission, where additional support testimony was heard from the Governor’s office, DCCA, and former consumer advocacy staff.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Joint Legislative Budget Commission Apr 17th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- Senator Berman? Here. Senator Boyd? Here. Senator Brodeur? Senator Harrell? Here.
- Senator Passidomo? Senator Rousseau? Here. Representative ... Senator Rousseau? Yeah.
- Senator Burman first and then Senator Rusan. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Chair.
- Senator Berman. Senator Boyd. Yes. Senator Brodeur. Senator Harrell. Senator Harrell. Yes.
- Senator Berman. Senator Boyd. Yes. Senator Broder. Senator Harold. Senator Harrell. Yes.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Election Protection / Shutting Down Scam PACs / A New Senator Shares His Priorities Apr 17th, 2026
Minnesota Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- How Senator Michael Holmstrom's past led him to the Senate and possibly to your door.
- Senator, welcome back to Senate Spotlight. Thank you so much for having me back.
- <c> Senate</c> Senator, welcome back to Senate Senator, welcome back to Senate Spotlight.<00:01:43.960
- Senator Bonnie Westlin hopes to stop that harm with Senate File 1851.
- </c> Senator, welcome to Senate Spotlight. Senator, welcome to Senate Spotlight.
VT
Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session - 2026-04-17 - 11:30AM
Vermont Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- The Senator from Washington has moved that the Senate Finance Committee be relieved of H. 727, an act
- </c> Senator from Rutland. Thank you, Mr. Senator from Rutland. Thank you, Mr.
- Senate. Senate.
- Senate Finance will meet at 1:00. Mr. President, Senate Appropriations will also meet at 1:00.
- As well, the Senate Government Operations Committee. Senator from Windham. Thank you, Mr.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety - Part 2 - 04/17/26
Judiciary and Public Safety
Transcript Highlights:
- All right, Senator Kroon, Senate File 4404.
- Senator<01:22:08.200><c> Limmer.</c> Senator Limmer. Senator Limmer.
- , Senator Limer >> Senator<02:14:10.760><c> Senator</c><02:14:11.000><c> Latz</c> >> Senator
- So, I also want to recognize the staff, the GOP and the Senate staff or the DFL staff that make this
- So, I also want to recognize the staff, the GOP and the Senate staff or the DFL staff that make this
Committee:
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety