Video & Transcript Research : 'census redistricting'

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VT

Vermont 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Caucus of the Whole - Act 73 Overview - 2026-01-16 - 12:00PM

Vermont House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Section three created the school district redistricting task force.
  • </c><00:02:24.400><c> Um</c> redistricting task force. Um redistricting task force.
  • </c><00:15:46.800><c> grants</c><00:15:47.120><c> in</c><00:15:47.360><c> the</c> In place of census
  • block grants in the In place of census block grants in the existing<00:15:47.839><c> model</c><00:15:
  • Repeal of that census block grant for special education.
Keywords: 926, house, all
MS

Mississippi 2026 Regular Session

MS House Floor - 8 January, 2026; 2:00 PM

Mississippi House Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • Um, what this bill does is it simply takes the redistricting bill for judicial redistricting we did last
  • We're working with mapping to make sure we have the census blocks correct, and I'll bring her over to
  • to make sure we have the census blocks to make sure we have the census blocks correct<00:12:42.560><c
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Appropriations Committee Aug 20th, 2025

Transcript Highlights:
  • However, the discussion is emphasizing the importance of independent redistricting.
  • However, the discussion is emphasizing the importance of independent redistricting.
  • Redistricting is how politicians decide who wins before voters get a say.
  • California did not start this redistricting fight. This fight was brought to us.
  • Trina Turner, 2020 Redistricting Commissioner.
Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee met on August 20, 2025, and considered a large number of bills, with most of the discussion centered on election redistricting and several health, labor, environmental, and government-operations measures. The first major item was ACA 8, a constitutional amendment tied to a proposed November special election and temporary mid-decade congressional redistricting in response to partisan redistricting efforts in other states. Supporters, including Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, a 2020 redistricting commissioner, labor groups, and allies of the measure, argued it was necessary to defend democracy, protect representation, and respond to federal actions affecting California. Opponents, including Assemblymember Tom Lackey reading a statement for Assemblymember Gallagher and Assemblymember Dixon, argued the measure would undermine the independent redistricting commission, amount to a partisan power grab, and cost taxpayers roughly $230 million. Committee members also focused heavily on fiscal questions, including litigation costs and county election funding, and Department of Finance staff said counties would be made whole and funding would be advanced. The committee ultimately voted the measure out on a B roll call. The committee then heard SB 280, the implementing bill for the special election and related redistricting process. Supporters repeated the argument that California needed to respond to Texas and other states, while opponents again emphasized the cost, the strain on county budgets, and the state’s broader fiscal pressures. Department of Finance witnesses said the election funding would be provided in advance and that the state would work with counties and the Secretary of State. The bill was moved out on a roll call after extended debate. The committee also advanced several other bills, including SB 283 on battery storage safety standards, SB 470 extending remote participation and open-meeting flexibility for state boards and commissions, SB 697 modernizing stream adjudication procedures, SB 513 requiring more accessible employee training records, SB 30 restricting transfer of older diesel locomotives, SB 841 and SB 81 creating protections for vulnerable facilities and health care spaces from immigration enforcement, SB 358 revising traffic impact fee standards, and SB 630 streamlining state parks land acquisitions. Other measures discussed included SB 62 expanding health coverage benefits, SB 68 requiring restaurant allergen disclosures, and the committee heard both support and opposition on SB 68 from the California Restaurant Association and consumer advocates. Supporters of the health and immigrant-protection bills emphasized patient safety, reproductive health, immigrant rights, and access to care, while opponents on the restaurant bill warned of added mandates and litigation risk for small businesses. Across the hearing, committee members frequently returned to fiscal impacts, county implementation burdens, and whether the bills would save money, cost money, or shift costs to local governments. Several bills were reported out of committee, often on A or B roll calls, with some members not voting on particular measures.
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Judiciary Committee Jun 23rd, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Formerly known as the Black Census and Redistricting Hub, our coalition actually began with an intentional
  • to engage Black communities in the state redistricting process and support our network in engaging in
  • local redistricting to uplift communities of interest.
  • These examples confirm that we still face threats of discriminatory redistricting and efforts to pass
  • once the census is updated.
Keywords: 988, house, all
CA

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

Assembly Local Government Committee Jul 1st, 2026

Local Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • The League has long championed independent, transparent, and fair redistricting.
  • Working at a civic engagement table, census and redistricting nearly became a personality trait for me
  • independent redistricting commission proposals.
  • And then, just like the California Independent Redistricting Commission.
  • or to do a redistricting commission because it is advisory.
Keywords: 988, house, all
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

03/25/2026 - House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections

House Federalism, Military Affairs & Elections Committee of Reference

Transcript Highlights:
  • So I think the big flaw in our redistricting commission now is that...
  • I mean, something will happen between now and the census.
  • I mean, like, it's something will happen between now and the census.
  • and Redistricting Committee in the Arizona Democratic Party.
  • During the last census, I was a census supervisor, and I remember redistricting talks.
Summary: The committee heard an extended presentation and discussion on Arizona higher education research security, focused heavily on Arizona State University’s foreign funding, international partnerships, and alleged ties to Chinese military-affiliated institutions. The presenter argued that ASU and the Arizona Board of Regents had not been transparent about foreign gifts, contracts, and research collaborations, especially those involving the Chinese “Seven Sons” universities, and said the committee would pursue a congressional referral and other federal review. A strike-everything amendment to SB 1060 was described but then withdrawn; the underlying SB 1327 was then taken up as a companion measure requiring ABOR to adopt university research security policies and submit annual reports on those policies and on foreign contributions over $250,000. The committee heard testimony in support from Marina Macklin, who said the bill would help protect dual-use and defense-relevant research from being funneled to China’s military ecosystem, and she answered questions about biosecurity, semiconductors, AI model theft, and election systems. After debate, SB 1327 was approved on a 4-2 vote, with Delos Santos and Marquez voting no and Colloden, Powell, and the chair voting yes; the chair stated his support was to keep missile, armor, guidance, and other technology safe from the Chinese government. The committee then heard SB 1803, a veterans’ consumer-protection bill regulating private companies that help veterans file disability claims. The bill would prohibit unaccredited persons from preparing, presenting, or prosecuting veterans’ benefits matters, require service agreements to be filed with the Attorney General, cap compensation, ban certain practices such as overseas call centers and in-house doctors, and create consumer-fraud enforcement authority. Sponsor Sen. Gallin said the measure was intended to add guardrails for veterans and prevent bad actors from taking excessive fees or misleading claimants. Testimony from Veterans Guardian representatives supported the bill as a way to create transparency and preserve veterans’ choice while regulating the industry; they said many veterans seek private help after unsuccessful attempts with free services and that the bill would not eliminate competition. Opponents and skeptical members questioned whether the bill would effectively legalize one business model while restricting others, whether the contingent-fee structure was consumer-friendly, and whether the companies were engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. The discussion also referenced prior federal and state litigation involving similar laws and the possibility of future federal accreditation reform. The transcript ends during continued questioning on SB 1803, before a final vote is shown.
LA
Transcript Highlights:
  • The map performs incredibly well on traditional redistricting criteria, including the objective highlighted
  • It follows all of the criteria that we are supposed to follow with respect to redistricting.
  • This is one thing I always say in this building, and it's going to hold true for redistricting or any
  • Redistricting in the United States is frequently intertwined with racial discrimination, where voting
  • I've been paying attention and involved in redistricting in Louisiana since after the 1990 census, and
Summary: The Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee met on May 12, 2026, and focused primarily on Senate Bill 407, a congressional redistricting proposal, with Senate Bill 121 also scheduled for later. The chair explained the committee would first take up SB 407, consider amendments, then hear public testimony, and would not take up SB 116 or SB 130. Two amendment sets were adopted on SB 407: one technical set adjusting dates to align with the upcoming election cycle, and another updating the map in the bill. Committee members and the bill sponsor described the proposal as a 4-2 congressional map intended to comply with the Supreme Court’s CalA ruling, preserve traditional redistricting criteria, and avoid using race as the basis for district lines. Supporters of SB 407 argued the map was compact, contiguous, kept parishes and cities together, and created two opportunity districts without racial predominance. Several senators said the map better reflected Louisiana’s political and demographic realities and could withstand legal challenge under the Equal Protection Clause and First Amendment. Testimony in support also emphasized fairness, representation, and the idea that the state should not move to a 5-1 map. Some speakers, including former legislators and community advocates, said the state should maintain or preserve two districts where Black voters and Democratic voters could elect candidates of choice. Opponents of the broader redistricting effort criticized the process as rushed and confusing, especially because early voting had already begun and the Secretary of State was not present to answer questions. Some speakers said the legislature had not been properly involved in the election suspension process and raised concerns about whether votes already cast would count if maps changed. Others argued the proposed changes were an attempt to dilute political power and disenfranchise voters, particularly Black, poor, and queer communities. The committee heard extensive public testimony on both sides, but no final vote on the bill was taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Committee on the Census Jun 21st, 2026 at 10:30 am

Senate Committee on the Census

Transcript Highlights:
  • Census Bureau called the 2030 Census National LUCA Working Group.
  • Those are the Census Bureau's rules on what can be accepted post-census.
  • Those are the Census Bureau's rules on what can be accepted post-census.
  • and census blocks.
  • No, and it's sort of like it would be the next step after the census redistricting.
Keywords: 995, all
Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census held a hearing on September 22, 2025 focused on preparations for the 2030 census, with an emphasis on Massachusetts’ role in building a complete address list and improving local participation in census-related address review programs. Chair Brownsberger and witnesses from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office, the UMass Donahue Institute, Watertown, and MassGIS described the importance of accurate address data for congressional apportionment, federal funding, and state and local planning. They also discussed the first major upcoming step, the Block Boundary Suggestion Project, and the later Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) process, both of which rely on municipalities reviewing and correcting census geography and address files. John Rosenberry of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office said outreach to cities and towns is beginning now, with a likely December start for the block boundary process based on the 2020 cycle. He stressed that local officials, clerks, building inspectors, housing authorities, and GIS staff should be engaged early, especially to capture new development and conversions created under the state’s housing policies. Susan Strait of UMass Donahue explained that LUCA allows local governments to compare their address lists with the Census Bureau’s master address file, and that Massachusetts had very high participation in 2020; she cited examples where local review added hidden or newly built housing units and noted that Boston later corrected a group-quarters undercount of about 6,000 students through a post-census review program. In response to questions, she clarified that those corrections affected annual estimates and funding formulas, but not the 2020 apportionment count. Watertown City Manager George Proakis described how local address review is complicated by accessory dwelling units, single-family to two-family conversions, and large multifamily projects, and urged continued state support for local governments doing this work. Dan Marrier of MassGIS then outlined the Massachusetts Master Address Database, explaining that it combines multiple sources, including E911, assessor, voter, and municipal data, to create a standardized residential address repository used for census preparation and other state functions. He said the database has helped improve census accuracy, including by updating more than one million Census Bureau address-point locations before 2020, and noted that local municipalities remain the final authority on addresses even as MassGIS standardizes and reconciles variants across the Commonwealth.
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Public Safety Feb 11th, 2026

Public Safety

Transcript Highlights:
  • So does this bill also deal with a census about local...
  • So how does this bill also deal with a census about local jails or just prisons?
  • I should clarify this is only when the census happens for apportionment purposes.
  • So going back to my district, and I've got 1,200 inmates at Mabel Bassett, the next census, your bill
  • Representative, do you see this during redistricting time?
Summary: The Public Safety Committee heard several bills related to vehicle titling and VIN inspection procedures. House Bill 4272, by Representative Miller, would create a formal certificate of titling system for boats and vessels in Oklahoma to document ownership and reduce fraud; it passed 6-0. House Bill 3277, a cleanup bill on VIN inspections and salvage vehicles, clarified who may perform inspections and added salvage pools as authorized entities; it passed 7-0. House Bill 3148 made additional changes to the VIN inspection process, including salvage pool language and anti-fraud protections, and also passed 7-0. House Bill 3323 removed notarization requirements for documents submitted electronically to Service Oklahoma and passed 7-0. House Bill 4105 clarified exemptions under the Oklahoma Security Guard Act and passed 6-0. House Bill 3304, renamed the Ray Davis Safe Roads Act, requires Service Oklahoma to check the methamphetamine database before issuing commercial driver licenses and passed 6-0. The committee also considered House Bill 4287, which would change how incarcerated people are counted for legislative apportionment by using their last residence rather than the prison location. Supporters argued it would create more equal representation and address a historical anomaly, while opponents said it would disconnect incarcerated constituents from the districts that currently represent them and could affect rural representation. After debate, the bill failed 4-5 and remained in committee. House Bill 3345, a Department of Mental Health bill, would expand pretrial behavioral health and substance use screening services to any charge, felony or misdemeanor, to help identify diversion opportunities earlier and support treatment referrals. Testimony emphasized that the screenings would be done by certified local contractors at no cost to county jails and would help courts, prosecutors, and defense counsel. The bill received a 4-4 vote but was reported out as a due pass. The committee then laid over House Bill 315 until the following week and adjourned.
AZ

Arizona 2026 Regular Session

02/04/2026 - Senate Government

Government

Transcript Highlights:
  • This would be the census after the next one.
  • Elections Fund to the state census fund in each fiscal year.
  • We know that only citizens can vote, but everyone counts in the census.
  • 2030 and up to $50 million each subsequent census, per the JLBC's fiscal note.
  • Everyone counts in the census.