Video & Transcript Research : 'defined contribution plan'
Page 99 of 500
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Community Affairs Dec 9th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- competing against dozens of other elements in that comprehensive plan.
- What happens is the nature of the politics is that... ...in that comprehensive plan.
- And if we can start defining that more effectively in our planning and permitting processes, I think
- we're able to get more... ...if we can start defining that more effectively in our planning and permitting
- I do believe that the way we plan is one reason why that happens.
Summary:
The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and took up SB 122, which would repeal Chapter 205 on local business taxes while allowing municipalities to continue imposing a gross-receipts-based business tax on merchants. Senator Trumbull presented the bill for the sponsor, and committee members questioned what services local governments fund with local business tax revenue and whether the bill should be considered alongside broader property tax changes. County and city representatives opposed the bill, arguing that local business taxes are capped home-rule revenues used for general fund services such as public safety, zoning and licensure checks, economic development, and business support, and warning that repeal would shift costs to residential taxpayers and reduce local flexibility. Senator Shreve said he would vote no because of ongoing property tax discussions, while Senator Pizzo said he would support the bill but wanted clearer accounting of how the revenue is spent. The committee voted 5-1 to report SB 122 favorably.
The committee then held a housing panel discussion focused on Florida’s housing shortage, affordability, and supply constraints. Dr. Samuel Staley said Florida is in a housing crisis driven largely by insufficient supply, arguing that the state needs roughly 100,000 additional units per year just to keep up with in-migration and that local planning systems often do not prioritize housing enough. He urged more emphasis on measurable impacts, streamlined permitting, accessory dwelling units, smaller lot sizes, and other market-responsive tools. Ann Ray of the Shimberg Center said Florida is seeing more single-family and multifamily construction but that production is concentrated in a handful of counties, while condo construction remains limited; she also noted that rents and home prices spiked sharply in the early 2020s and remain above pre-2020 levels, with nearly 905,000 low-income renters cost-burdened. Leslie Deutsch of John Burns Research said the national housing market is slow, Florida has a severe affordability problem, and builders are lowering prices and offering incentives but still face high land, labor, materials, and insurance costs.
In committee discussion, senators focused on whether Florida should encourage more density, including townhomes, build-to-rent products, modular housing, and redevelopment of existing sites rather than relying on large new subdivisions. Members also discussed the role of local zoning, impact fees, density bonuses, and state incentives tied to housing targets. Several senators said Florida’s growth and affordability challenges require updating land development codes and planning for where future residents will live without overbuilding rural or environmentally sensitive areas. The chair closed by emphasizing that density can support affordability and that Florida should use existing footprints more efficiently.
FL
Transcript Highlights:
- competing against dozens of other elements in that comprehensive plan.
- What happens is the nature of the politics is that... in that comprehensive plan.
- And if we can start defining that more effectively in our planning and permitting processes, I think
- we're able to get more... if we can start defining that more effectively in our planning and permitting
- I do believe that the way we plan is one reason why that happens.
Summary:
The Committee on Community Affairs met with a quorum present and first took up SB 122, which would repeal Chapter 205 governing local business taxes while allowing municipalities that already levy a gross-receipts-based business tax to continue doing so, with limits on changing the tax rate. The sponsor’s proxy and committee members discussed whether local business taxes fund identifiable services, with supporters saying the bill would reduce burdens on businesses and opponents arguing it would remove a capped home-rule revenue source used for general services, economic development, inspections, fire and police support, and business regulation. The Florida Association of Counties and the Florida League of Cities opposed the bill, citing a statewide revenue loss and concern that costs would shift to residential taxpayers, while one member noted the bill should be considered in the context of broader property tax changes. SB 122 was reported favorably by a roll call vote, with Senators Leek, Passidomo, Pizzo, Trumbull, and Chair McClain voting yes and Senator Sharief voting no.
The committee then held an extended informational panel on Florida’s housing shortage and affordability challenges. Dr. Samuel Staley said Florida is in a housing crisis driven primarily by insufficient supply, arguing that the state needs far more units each year, that local comprehensive plans and zoning often fail to prioritize housing, and that the state should focus more on measurable impacts, density, accessory dwelling units, smaller lot sizes, and other ways to let the market respond. Ann Ray of the Shimberg Center presented data showing increased single-family and multifamily construction but limited condo growth, highly concentrated new development in a handful of counties, and continued high cost burdens for renters, especially lower-income and older households. Leslie Deutsch of John Burns Research and Consulting said the national housing market is slow, Florida prices are easing but remain well above pre-pandemic levels, and affordability problems are being driven by land, construction, financing, and insurance costs; she urged more product diversity, including build-to-rent, townhomes, manufactured housing, and higher-density redevelopment tailored to local demographics.
Members questioned the panel about density, vertical development, impact fees, construction costs, and incentives for local governments. Several senators said local governments need clearer direction or incentives to approve more housing, while others emphasized preserving local character and avoiding overdevelopment. The panel generally agreed that no single policy will solve the problem, but that Florida needs more housing types, more density in appropriate places, updated zoning and building codes, and a more market-responsive regulatory framework. After the presentations and discussion, the committee adjourned with no further business.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
House Executive Departments and Administration (01/21/2026)
Executive Departments and Administration
Transcript Highlights:
- <03:23:22.160>
Was conditions as defined in RSA 6448. - Was conditions as defined in RSA 6448.
- >
but <03:35:20.080>I <03:35:20.239>just not planning to testify, but I just not - So, which is why we changed the language to just be contributing to.
- the language to just be contributing to. the language to just be contributing to.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- just think that those are the defined just think that those are the defined terms<00:09:38.320><
- article is drafted and how they define article is drafted and how they define the<00:10:03.600><
- <00:14:26.480>
regulations division and or site plan regulations division and or site plan - <00:39:18.840>
for for subdivision and/or site plans for for subdivision and/or site plans - subdivisions or multi-phase site plans subdivisions or multi-phase site plans need<00:39:32.440>
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Thank you all for the contribution that you've made to make our home really special.
- and the inclusion of health literacy in the state health plan.
- This would indeed establish an oil and gas infrastructure protection plan, a model plan for this whole
- Okay, so what is a hookah defined as? What makes it different from other pipes?
- The term excessive discount is not defined, so it is very arbitrary.
Summary:
The House convened with a quorum present, heard an invocation and pledges, received Senate messages, and adopted several procedural motions allowing committees to meet during the session and postponing or scheduling certain committee hearings. Members also observed a memorial recognition for Wood County Deputy Sheriff Melissa Pollard, who died in the line of duty, and adopted a resolution honoring her service. The chamber then adopted House Resolution 897 recognizing May 6, 2025 as Golf Day in Texas and House Resolution 1063 recognizing Dallas Housing Coalition Advocacy Day; additional recognitions highlighted Mental Health Awareness Month and tardive dyskinesia awareness, The Woodlands’ 50th anniversary, Alzheimer’s advocacy, student athlete Gator Young, an intern in Rep. Leo-Wilson’s office, and educator Jessica Lopez.
The House spent much of the day on third-reading consideration of a long calendar of bills. Among the measures passed were HB 24 on zoning protest procedures, HB 3800 creating a health care workforce advisory board, HB 42 on higher education appropriations, HB 129 restricting contracts with foreign adversary companies, HB 677 on county elections administrator political activity, HB 668 on license-to-carry renewal procedures, HB 2128 directing a rural firefighting study, HB 2038 expanding physician licensing options, HB 2316 on election result reporting, HB 3686 on retired peace officer ID cards, HB 2563 creating a prescribed burn manager self-insurance pool, HB 1160 increasing penalties for assaults on utility workers, HB 3883 on major events funding, HB 2788 protecting fraud-detection information, HB 2663 on inactive well plugging extensions, HB 3305 extending a county health provider participation program, HB 3474 on pension reporting, HB 1105 expanding tuition exemptions for certain paramedics, HB 3490 on closed meetings with internal auditors, HB 3597 on child care facility notice thresholds, HB 1295 on health literacy planning, HB 3512 on AI training for government employees, HB 3783 on court-ordered counseling, HB 2017 on intoxication manslaughter penalties, HB 3010 on rural disaster recovery, HB 3112 on cybersecurity-related public information and meetings, HB 4215 on delivery network companies, HB 3223 on construction claims limitation periods, HB 3464 on controlled substances in correctional facilities, HB 3120 on residential child detention facilities, HB 4214 on public information, HB 481 on trade secret sealing, HB 4783 on opioid antagonist program reporting, HB 4063 on unilateral memoranda of contract, HB 2783 on county employee deferred compensation, HB 5085 on seed banks, HB 2510 on assisted living facility operations, HB 3426 on digital driver’s licenses, HB 4361 on emergency notifications at higher education institutions, HB 1169 on oil and gas infrastructure protection, HB 2516 on Medicare supplement eligibility for Texans under 65, HB 3560 on hospital staff background checks, HB 3860 on occupational licenses for inmates, HB 3146 on SOAH hearings, HB 184 on loan repayment for border prosecution attorneys, HB 198 on firefighter cancer screenings, HB 247 on border security infrastructure taxation, HB 367 on excused absences for students with severe illnesses, HB 449 on deepfake sexually explicit images, HB 1778 on human trafficking and related offenses, HB 514 on maternal health workforce outreach, HB 632 on pharmacy regulation, HB 2582 on victim parole information, HB 766 on precinct chair ballot applications, HB 2715 on suspension/removal of officials, HB 2712 on water and sewer utility test years, HB 3069 on transmission projects, HB 3505 on health provider participation districts, HB 1269 on plant disease and pest prevention grants, HB 4224 on access to health care records, HB 5032 on historical documents in the Capitol complex, HB 2240 on void marriages, HB 5180 on diploma designation, HB 3348 on health provider participation programs, HB 4668 on PUC authority to retain assistance, HB 4665 on child care training providers, HB 3395 on beneficiary designation for manufactured homes, HB 3157 on interim electric utility rates, HB 4395 on electronic submission of public securities records, HB 4325 on bribery civil penalties, HB 4386 on annuity replacement transactions, HB 4273 on Medicaid fraud-related unlawful acts, HB 2760 on judicial review of unemployment decisions, HB 2820 on charitable bingo operating capital, HB 1828 on legislative leave for correctional officers, and a series of Senate bills including SB 2349, SB 1268, SB 610, SB 1577, SB 1369, SB 2032, SB 1057, SB 1044, SB 922, SB 1759, SB 1143, SB 1506, SB 1403, SB 2361, SB 870, SB 372, and SB 72. Several bills drew debate or amendments, including HB 24, where a germane point of order was sustained against an amendment, and HB 198, HB 3348, and SB 2361, which were amended before passage.
Most measures passed by wide margins, though some drew notable opposition, including HB 3883, HB 514, HB 1295, HB 184, SB 1143, and others. The House also postponed further consideration of HB 4700 until the end of the day and HB 24 until 1 p.m., and it granted permission for committees to meet during the House session and for the Calendars Committee to meet that morning.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Understand that in this case there's been a significant contribution now by the state for two sessions
- Defining your definition of sex, Senator Middleton, could defining sex solely as biological male or female
- No, actually, we've already passed legislation in this chamber to define male and female as biological
- We passed the bill to define male and female according to President Trump's executive order and Governor
- strikes the The chairman of the committee recommends that the bill becomes publicly legal and has a plan
Keywords:
real property, fraud, theft, elderly, disabled, statute of limitations, criminal offense, property rights, property tax, ad valorem tax, voter-approval tax rate, no-new-revenue tax rate, tax rate calculation, Tax Code, local government finance, municipality, county, special taxing unit, sales and use tax, property tax cap
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment & Energy May 18th, 2026 at 01:30 pm
Environment & Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- And then in Quebec, there is no defined permanent standard.
- The public meetings we have planned are virtual.
- But there isn't a defined timeline.
- Ecology is currently reviewing a draft plan submitted by MLRA a few weeks ago.
- This aligns with the state's solid and hazardous waste plan.
Summary:
The committee’s interim work session focused first on carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS), with presenters from industry, nonprofits, and state agencies describing Washington’s geologic potential, the role of basalt formations, and the difference between point-source capture, direct air capture, utilization, and permanent storage. Industry and project developers emphasized that Washington has major opportunities to reduce industrial emissions, create jobs, and support hard-to-electrify sectors, while state agencies explained current policy touchpoints in the Cap and Invest Program, emissions exemptions for permanently stored CO2, and the Clean Energy Transformation Act. Several presenters urged clearer statutory and regulatory pathways, including rules for pore space, subsurface rights, pipeline siting, and long-term liability; others cautioned that CCUS should be limited to real emissions reductions and not treated as a substitute for broader clean energy measures.
Committee members asked about public comment opportunities, whether mineralized carbon would qualify for exemption under the Climate Commitment Act, the energy intensity of capture systems, aquifer protection, and liability if storage later proves problematic. Ecology said it is developing guidance through a public engagement process running through late June and that mineralized or otherwise permanently stored CO2 would likely qualify if it meets the 1,000-year permanence standard. DNR and outside experts also discussed trust lands, water rights, and the need for additional geophysical surveys and test wells. The panel did not take any votes or formal actions.
The second half of the meeting turned to hazardous waste and extended producer responsibility. Ecology reviewed existing product stewardship programs for electronics, paint, batteries, and mercury lights, and described how moderate risk waste and household hazardous waste are currently collected through county facilities and events. Ecology said the electronics program is its best model, while the mercury lamp program is currently in transition after the prior stewardship organization exited and a new organization is seeking approval. Ecology recommended that future EPR programs have clear producer and product definitions, full producer funding, convenience standards, annual reporting, and strong enforcement authority.
Local government witnesses from King County and Douglas County described rising costs, access barriers in rural areas, and the need for stable funding and flexible local delivery models. King County said it collected over 3 million pounds of hazardous products in 2025 and argued that EPR could reduce costs for ratepayers and improve equity. Douglas County stressed that rural residents are willing to participate when services are available, but travel distance and operating costs make access difficult. An industry representative supported narrowly scoped stewardship programs like PaintCare but warned that broad household hazardous waste EPR systems can become difficult to administer and may require legislative revisions if responsibilities are not clearly defined. No votes were taken on the hazardous waste topic either.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Energy and Natural Resources (02/04/2025)
Energy and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- <01:20:42.159>
in what's defined in what's defined in statute<01:20:44.199>sometimes - storm water pollution prevention plans storm water pollution prevention plans for<01:38:27.040><
- or no we want a full new aot so defining or no we want a full new aot so defining that<01:41:29.639
- <01:59:42.440>
to Road contractor and it contributes to Road contractor and it contributes - <02:09:13.119>
um aot permitting for their site plans um aot permitting for their site plans
MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Conference Committee on S.F. 1832 - Jobs and Labor Omnibus - 05/18/25
Transcript Highlights:
- Members, the plan today is to continue, as we have on our other meetings, to adopt some policy provisions
- Um, so, the plan would be to adopt the Senate language for this, except I think that Chair Baker had
- Um so, the plan would be to issue.
- We'll plan to do that. Moving the R85, R88 that moves to the labor side of the bill.
- I think I'm planning to recess, just given the nature of the session.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Apr 22nd, 2026
Utilities and Energy
Transcript Highlights:
- This is not a mandate to define or incentivize any specific fuel.
- The next AB 32 scoping plan, due out next year, is a holistic multi-agency decarbonization plan for the
- Plan for the state.
- So we haven't defined it yet. But I feel like maybe I'm missing something.
- We've stayed the course on, let's define the problem, and then we go from there.
Summary:
The committee heard several energy-related bills. AB 1813, by Assemblymember Ward, would revise California’s community renewable energy program to better support community solar and storage, especially for renters and low-income customers, and to base bill credits on avoided costs. Supporters said the current CPUC program is unworkable and would not produce new projects, while utilities raised cost-shift, CCA, and process concerns. AB 2313, by Assemblymember Berman, would let gas customers whose service lines are being replaced choose electrification instead, using part of the replacement funds as an incentive; supporters framed it as a customer-choice and cost-saving measure, while opponents argued it could divert safety funds and conflict with the recently approved SB 1221 pilot. AB 1975, by Assemblymember Schultz, would require the CPUC to develop a grid utilization methodology to better measure and use existing distribution infrastructure; supporters said it could reduce ratepayer costs and defer upgrades, while utilities warned against rigid utilization targets and said the bill should better account for customer behavior and beneficial load growth.
The committee also heard AB 2612, which would direct state agencies to develop standards for plug-in photovoltaic systems that can connect through residential and nonresidential circuits. Supporters said it would expand access to low-cost solar and improve safety and consistency, while utilities sought clarification that they would participate in the standards process. AB 1849, by Assemblymember Papin, would direct CARB to study the need for decarbonized gas fuels in hard-to-electrify sectors and for grid reliability; supporters said it would provide a data-driven assessment of future fuel needs, while opponents argued it was biased toward a predetermined outcome and duplicative of existing state efforts. AB 2088 would authorize investor-owned utilities to own and operate thermal energy networks using geothermal energy or waste heat, with supporters emphasizing climate, affordability, and workforce benefits and no opposition testimony heard.
Votes were taken on the measures that came to a vote. AB 1975 passed the committee 7-0 and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2612 passed 9-0 and was sent to Appropriations. AB 1849 passed 10-0 and was sent to Appropriations. AB 2088 passed 9-0 and was sent to Appropriations. Several bills were still on call for absent members when the transcript ended.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- And their plan is to bank $35 million because they can.
- But my point is, how do you plan to enforce this?
- So how do you plan for your bill, Senate Bill 8, to be enforced?
- You don't define in Senate Bill 13 what a political subdivision is like.
- You define it in Senate Bill 8.
Bills:
SB2, SB3, SB5, SB9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB18, SB34, SB6, SB7, SB8, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB 2, SB 3, SB 5, SB 9, SB 10, SB 14, SB 16, SB 18, SB 34, SB 6, SB 7, SB 8, SB 11, SB 12, SB 13, SB 15, SB 17, SB 4, SB1, SB2, SB3, SB5, SB9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB18, SB34, SB6, SB7, SB8, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB17, SB4
Keywords:
flooding, public safety, outdoor warning sirens, disaster preparedness, emergency response, flood warning, outdoor sirens, local government, safety measures, flood management, emergency preparedness, municipal safety, disaster response, disaster relief, emergency funding, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, hemp regulation, consumable products
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- departments can define what data sets they want to use, including whether it is the historical crash
- So there are several different parameters that you would define for the data. Slightly lower.
- For example, there is a use case around urban planning. How do you plan your cities better?
- For example, there is a use case around urban planning. How do you plan your cities better?
- Definitely, I see a benefit with administration planning and all of that.
Summary:
The House Science and Technology Committee met and heard two informational presentations, with no bills considered and no votes taken. Deloitte Infrastructure Insights presented a transportation AI tool, Infrastructure Insights Pro, focused on vulnerable road user safety and pedestrian crash analysis. The presenter described how the platform ingests agency data such as crash records, GIS layers, and project management systems to generate map-based insights, trust scores for data reliability, and draft concept reports. Members asked about how long similar reports took before AI, whether the tool had been used in other states, and whether it reduced cost or effort; the presenter said a report that once took six to eight months could now be drafted in hours, that the safety use case had been implemented at Caltrans, and that the main savings were in staff effort.
The committee then heard from OCTA and Socure on digital identity, fraud prevention, and resident access to government services. The presenters argued that state and local governments should move toward a single, privacy-preserving digital identity experience that reduces multiple logins, improves security, and helps stop fraud by using contextual signals such as device, location, and document validation. They said Arizona already uses OCTA for more than 40,000 employees and some citizen services, and that Socure supports identity verification for public programs, including Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account. A lengthy discussion followed about Real ID, state digital IDs, privacy, Fourth Amendment concerns, federal funding, and whether identity systems could become a national ID or surveillance tool. The presenters responded that states should retain control, that verifiable digital credentials can limit what information is shared, and that Arizona could centralize resident identity with privacy guardrails while preserving choice. The committee adjourned without further business.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
Senate - Health and Public Affairs Jan 26th, 2026 at 01:45 pm
Senate Health & Public Affairs
Transcript Highlights:
- But next Sunday I do plan on this meeting.
- ... ...already in place, say, well, this is how we're going to really define I need.
- The first step was to develop these plans.
- And so there, and the plans are supposed to develop the priorities.
- because if you know what the plans are, you know what infrastructure to build out.
LA
Louisiana 2026 Regular Session
Transportation, Highways and Public Works Apr 27th, 2026
Transportation, Highways & Public Works
Transcript Highlights:
- all bridges that are part of the state highway system or, as applicable pursuant to the terms as defined
- Amendment 6 changes proposed plan and review to report detailing the condition on page 2, line 26.
- And so this bill allows us to be proactive in planning that maintenance work and then report back to
- particularly meaningful because the north-south highway that ultimately became I-49 was one of the defining
- It takes years of planning, funding, and persistence.”
Bills:
HCR63, HCR69, SCR6, SCR18, SB2, SB19, SB24, SB50, SB70, SB96, SB101, SB103, SB104, SB114, SB122, SB159, SB160, SB182, SB412, SB418, SB460
Keywords:
military drivers, driver's license exemption, active-duty military, federal vehicle, government-owned vehicle, state highways, public safety, task force, Tiger Team, Louisiana National Guard, Fort Polk, Barksdale Air Force Base, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Department of Defense, executive order, military readiness, vehicle licensing, law enforcement, state police, sheriffs association
Summary:
The House Transportation Committee met on Monday, April 27, with a quorum present and took up a series of Senate bills and one House concurrent resolution, most of them related to transportation infrastructure, memorial highway designations, and prestige license plates. Early action centered on Senate Bill 122, which would direct the Department of Transportation and Development to be more proactive about bridge maintenance, inspection, reporting, and public meetings on bridge conditions; the committee adopted a large amendment package before reporting the bill with amendments. The committee also reported favorably SCR 6 supporting an LNG facility at Port Fourchon and SCR 18 directing a study of commercial driver’s license privileges compared with neighboring states.
Several bills designated memorial highways or bridges, including SB 50 for the Elwood T. Brady Jr. Memorial Bridge, SB 70 for the Officer Mark Brock Memorial Highway, SB 460 for the Hayden Lane Mangum Memorial Highway, SB 101 for the Daniel Edward Didillo Memorial Highway and Bill Blue Evans Memorial Highway, SB 160 for the Speaker Joe R. Salter Memorial Highway, SB 418 for the Dick and Jacques Schuford Memorial Highway, SB 103 for the Gladys Edwards Highway, SB 159 for the Surgeon Roelio Roy Gonzalez Jr. Memorial Highway, SB 182 for the Mayor Billy Cobb Memorial Highway, SB 104 for the Ernest J. Gaines Memorial Highway, and SB 2 for the Falcons Band Highway. The committee also approved SB 114 creating a prestige plate for the Foundation for Moral Law and SB 96 creating a Fallen Heroes prestige plate.
One of the more substantive policy items was HCR 63, which creates a task force to study whether certain active-duty military personnel without civilian driver’s licenses should be allowed to operate federally owned vehicles on state highways; it was reported favorably after discussion of military training and licensing differences. Another major item was HCR 69, urging DOTD to improve Interstate 12 in Livingston Parish; the committee adopted amendments adding findings about flooding, drainage, and evacuation concerns, and then reported the resolution with amendments. The committee also considered SB 19 on the state employee retired prestige plate; after objections about whether proceeds should continue supporting LASERS, the bill was reported favorably by roll call vote, 13-1, with Representative Schamberhorn voting no.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Environment and Natural Resources Oct 7th, 2025
Environment and Natural Resources
Transcript Highlights:
- conversations should happen well before an application is submitted and should be part of the early planning
- He said the starting point for a more long-term, robust management plan for the black bear species is
- The Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida did make a contribution.
- The Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida did make a contribution of $250,000 to the Yes on 2 campaign
- This law defines what a migrant vessel is, establishes a five-day removal notice period, and authorizes
Summary:
The Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee first considered the appointment of Joshua Kellam to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Kellam described his background with Garcia Companies, emphasized his conservation interests and land stewardship work, and addressed concerns about his development ties, the commission’s composition, the recent black bear hunt vote, and a prior Yes on 2 campaign supported by the Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Supporters said he is a conservation-minded landowner and good steward of large acreage, while opponents argued the commission is already overrepresented by developers and lacks scientific or conservation expertise. After debate, the committee voted to recommend his confirmation, with Senators Smith and Arrington voting no and the rest of the members present voting yes.
The committee then received an FWC implementation update on recently enacted boating and waterways legislation. FWC staff reviewed five laws: the Boater Freedom Act (SB 1388), Vessel Accountability (SB 164), Lucy’s Law/Boating Safety (HB 289), Disposition of Migrant Vessels (SB 830), and Water Access Facilities (HB 735). The presentation covered new rules on vessel stops, safety decals, Springs Protection Zones, derelict and at-risk vessel enforcement, long-term anchoring permits, tougher boating penalties, removal of migrant vessels, and grants for boating access infrastructure. Staff said rulemaking and officer training were underway, with some provisions already effective and others scheduled to take effect later in 2025 or January 2026.
Members asked follow-up questions about derelict vessel cost recovery and the new Springs Protection Zone standard. FWC explained that responsible owners must reimburse removal costs and can lose vessel registration privileges if they do not pay. On Springs Protection Zones, staff said the new law raises the threshold from any harm to significant harm and requires vessel activity to be the predominant cause, with subject matter experts and partner agencies helping make that determination. Senator Smith questioned whether the higher standard makes protections harder to establish and asked about Silver Glen Springs; FWC said that proposal was paused and would be revisited under the new criteria. The committee took no further action and adjourned after the presentation.
NM
Transcript Highlights:
- Chairman, Representative Baca, when you all created the Family Income Index in 2021, you all defined
- the actual income thresholds that each of those categories is defined as for extremely low income.
- high school graduation, college. and career, and social-emotional health, frankly, and so this contributes
- We hope that raising teacher salaries is just one aspect of a statewide teacher workforce plan, a plan
- We have teacher issues, and we also have administrator vacancies, which again contribute to many people
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- No, that's all right. >> Uh, actually, that word being defined, does this amendment prohibit then a member
- :06:36.960>
count <00:06:37.280>towards <00:06:37.840>uh <00:06:38.000>contribution - expenses count towards uh contribution expenses count towards uh contribution limits<00:06:38.720
- /c><00:09:03.680>
word <00:09:04.000>being <00:09:04.800>um <00:09:06.000>defined - , >> Uh actually, that word being um defined, >> Uh actually, that word being um defined
Summary:
The committee took up House File 3363, a bill focused on protecting the privacy and safety of legislators and other candidates by limiting public access to home addresses and related information in campaign finance and election filings. The author said the bill was prompted by the events of June 14 and was intended to make temporary Campaign Finance Board changes permanent. No public testimony was offered, and the author explained that the bill had been narrowed and reorganized after a Senate delete-everything amendment expanded its scope.
Members then considered a series of amendments. The A1 amendment, which added security devices and security services as allowable non-campaign disbursements, was adopted after questions about family relationships and whether payments to relatives could qualify. The A2 through A9 amendments were also adopted, covering data classification or redaction of street addresses in Campaign Finance Board reports, lobbyist gift reports, candidate affidavits of candidacy, nominating petitions, local government candidate reports, and retroactive redaction of existing reports. The A4 amendment was modified by A12 to apply city, state, and ZIP code reporting to political committees, political funds, and party units. The A13 amendment removed a proposed misdemeanor penalty tied to disclosure violations, and the A14 amendment was adopted to give caucus and chamber leaders access to actual candidate addresses, though members noted the language still needed refinement and that the intent was to continue working on it.
There was discussion about whether the address-access language in A14 would apply to all candidates or only legislative candidates, and whether it would affect residency disputes; staff said it would not change complaint or court processes, but could be a data point. Several members said they had concerns about the breadth of the language but were willing to keep working on it. After the amendments were adopted, the committee moved to the bill as amended and recommended that House File 3363 be re-referred to the Judiciary Committee.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- So the applicant defines that.
- We put together a committee that reviews those plans, and then we make comments.
- We ask them questions like you ask of us here at the Arts Board, and then we approve those plans.
- This spending supports jobs, strengthens local businesses, and contributes to tax revenue.
- To put it in perspective, Minnesota's creative sector contributes 3.08% of the state's GDP.
NM
New Mexico 2026 Regular Session
House - Appropriations and Finance Feb 15th, 2026 at 12:53 pm
House Appropriations & Finance
Transcript Highlights:
- Chair, Representative, define youth for me. Mr.
- But we knew in order to bring that forward, we needed a plan as well, because of the fact that we knew
- In the definitions section, we define who the Director is and... that is the Director of Risk Management
- Representative, there's part of this answer which is that the commission will define that in its own
- I would prefer a more clearly defined dissolution date of the commission, or at least the certainty that
Keywords:
Shaken Baby Syndrome, abusive head trauma, child safety, training and education, healthcare funding, youth internships, workforce development, education, grant funding, employment, drinking water, water quality, environment, public health, water filtration, private well testing, federal funding, childhood sexual abuse, time limitations, civil actions
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
Committee on Housing and Homelessness Prevention - 03/24/26
Housing and Homelessness Prevention
Transcript Highlights:
- And it also excluded any land price, as the city is contributing the full property to the project.
- Um, fortunately, we plan to market these lots for considerably less than that $90,000, around $50,000
- , and that would not be possible without the contribution of city, county, and federal funds, as well
- full contributing is contributing the full contributing is contributing the full property<00:03:58.120
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of possible without the contribution of possible without the contribution of