Video & Transcript Research : 'storm damage relief'

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WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Floor Session Jan 28th, 2026 at 10:30 am

Washington House Floor Meeting

Summary: The House convened with a quorum, the flags were presented by the Washington National Guard Color Guard, the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem were observed, and a prayer was offered by a Washington Army National Guard chaplain. The chamber then adopted House Resolution 4675, honoring the Washington National Guard for its service in disaster response, search and rescue, military readiness, and community support. Representatives Donaghy and Lee spoke in support, emphasizing the Guard’s role in floods, landslides, and other emergencies, and the resolution passed by voice vote. The Speaker also recognized visiting Guard members and guests from the Nespelem tribe, and a member used personal privilege to honor Congressman Dan Newhouse and his public service. The main legislative dispute centered on how to handle two certified initiatives, IL-26-638 and IL-26-001. Representative Couture moved to suspend House rules and refer the initiatives to the Education Committee for prompt public hearings, arguing the Constitution requires precedence for initiatives. Representative Fitzgibbon opposed, citing Amendment 7 and the legislature’s option to take no action. After debate from several members on both sides about constitutional duty, precedence, and the meaning of “no action,” the motion failed on a recorded vote, 38 yeas and 57 nays, with three excused. The House then considered the regular motion to send the bills, memorials, resolutions, and initiatives on the introduction sheet to their designated committees. Supporters said this was the normal referral process; opponents argued the two initiatives should be given priority and held at the desk. After further debate, the motion passed on a recorded vote, 57 yeas and 38 nays, with three excused. Committee reports were then accepted by consent, and the House adjourned until 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 29.
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Commerce Apr 7th, 2026

Commerce

Transcript Highlights:
  • That has been proven with Hurricane Sally back in 2020, when they sustained 1% of damage.
  • That has been proven with Hurricane Sally back in 2020 when they sustained 1% of damage.
  • And we've shown storm after storm that new construction homes that are being inspected to current codes
  • The damage is done, is what you're saying. The damage is done.
  • There is no private right of action, no remedy, no path for a family to seek relief.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Agriculture & Natural Resources Feb 3rd, 2026 at 10:30 am

Agriculture & Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:
  • specific takes that were generated about this rulemaking, is there any threshold at which the economic damage
  • specific takes that were generated about this rulemaking, is there any threshold at which the economic damage
  • Non-fish-bearing streams make up most of our stream miles, and when they're degraded, the damage moves
  • Short-rotation, clear-cut plantation forestry increases washed-out roads, failed culverts, and flood damage
Summary: The committee held public hearings on House Bill 2598, which would create a Salmon Advisory Commission to coordinate salmon and steelhead recovery efforts among tribes, state agencies, legislators, and local governments. The prime sponsor argued the commission would improve coordination, elevate tribal co-management, and address fragmented recovery efforts. Supporters emphasized salmon’s cultural and treaty importance and the need for a formal statewide forum, while the lone public testifier from Washington Policy Center opposed adding another statewide body and urged more local control. The bill drew strong opposition in sign-in sheets, with 10 in favor, 886 opposed, and one other. The committee then heard House Bill 2620, which would repeal the recently adopted non-fish-bearing stream buffer rule and change how future riparian buffer rules are evaluated. The ranking member said the bill was intended to restore collaboration and ensure stakeholders were heard. Testimony split sharply: tribal, Ecology, DNR, conservation, and environmental witnesses defended the rule as science-based, necessary for water quality, and consistent with the Forest and Fish adaptive management process; timber, small forest landowner, and county representatives said the process broke down, the rule was too burdensome, and economic impacts on rural communities were not adequately considered. Committee members questioned witnesses extensively about consensus, Ecology’s role in concurrence, economic analysis, and the history of the rulemaking. Sign-in sheets showed 592 in favor, 489 opposed, and one other. In executive session, the committee first passed House Bill 2104, which removes the sunset from the Aviation Assurance Funding Program, by an 11-0 vote. It also passed House Bill 2348, a Department of Natural Resources request bill making changes to land and material sale advertising procedures, by 11-0. House Joint Memorial 4009, urging federal action on wildfire management of national forest lands, also passed 11-0. House Bill 2554, which repeals Initiative 456 concerning state declarations on tribal natural resource management and fishing rights, passed 7-4 after a roll call vote, with several members voting no without recommendation. The committee then moved on to House Bill 2544, but the transcript cuts off before that vote was completed.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

House - Judiciary Feb 2nd, 2026 at 02:11 pm

House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • I live every day with permanent physical damage, chronic pain, and limited use of my arm.
  • Against Women Act of 2010, strangulation which results in petechial hemorrhaging and potential brain damage
  • , you have this, you go to this point of where the hands do become deadly and can cause permanent damage
  • So, the governments are clamoring for relief.
  • I'm just saying there should be some way to be able to fund this. because people are clamoring for relief
Bills: HB9, HB50
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on the Judiciary Apr 7th, 2026

Joint Committee on the Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • state, or local officers, who violates the United States Constitution, is also exposed to injunctive relief
  • There's adjunctive relief isn't available kind of relief... Attorney General, the U.S. attorneys.
  • There's injunctive relief as an available kind of relief under Section 1983 and would be explicitly available
  • That is already the law for Massachusetts state and local officials, who can be sued for money damages
  • tool, it does not provide causes of action for most constitutional violations, allow for punitive damages
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Intergovernmental Affairs Apr 22nd, 2025

Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • And then finally, the Office of the Attorney General may bring action for injunctive relief if a city
  • If they have a $500,000... ...$500,000 contract for disaster recovery from a county after a major storm
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

Senate Ways & Means Feb 26th, 2026 at 01:30 pm

Ways & Means

Transcript Highlights:
  • Plus, literally, words said in the bill: all funds held by any firefighters' or police officer's relief
  • Tax relief for these projects means everyone else has to absorb higher property taxes at a time when
  • A private party may seek injunctive and equitable relief, as well as...
  • A private party may seek injunctive and equitable relief, as well as damages of the greater of any actual
  • damages suffered or 80 times the hourly minimum wage per plaintiff per violation.
WA

Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Finance Feb 4th, 2026 at 04:00 pm

Finance

Transcript Highlights:
  • So this is just a way to help give them some relief, help them stay afloat until our commodity prices
  • Second, the bill modifies certain property tax relief programs.
  • The amount of relief is determined under three thresholds based on each county's median income, and an
  • updated this program to ensure it meets its intended purpose of providing meaningful property tax relief
  • Currently, the DOR administers this kind of relief program through their enforcement authority.
Summary: House Finance held public hearings on several tax-related bills. HB 2584 would create a sales and use tax exemption for qualifying farm machinery and equipment purchased by eligible farmers, with the sponsor and supporters saying it would help struggling agricultural producers, encourage investment in more efficient and environmentally beneficial equipment, and support rural economies. County representatives opposed extending the exemption to local sales taxes, warning that counties rely heavily on sales tax revenue and cannot absorb additional exemptions. HB 2376 would consolidate the state’s two school property tax levies into one, expand and simplify property tax relief for seniors, people with disabilities, and veterans, and change how disposable income is calculated for eligibility. Supporters, including county officials and assessors, said it would help people age in place and make the program easier to use, while opponents argued it would raise taxes for some property owners and expand the state school levy. The committee also heard HB 2610, which would broaden a property tax exemption for nonprofit homeownership development so temporary nonprofit or community uses would not jeopardize the exemption; supporters said it would help nonprofits manage land during long predevelopment periods. HB 2615 would codify the Department of Revenue’s voluntary disclosure agreement program and create a temporary tax amnesty period for certain B&O, public utility, and sales/use tax liabilities. The sponsor and several tax and business witnesses said it would bring taxpayers into compliance, generate revenue, and help small businesses correct honest mistakes, while questions were raised about eligibility language for businesses involved in criminal tax prosecutions. After the hearings, the committee moved into executive action and reported HB 2194, HB 2257, HB 2528, and HB 2175 out of committee with due pass recommendations, with recorded votes showing support from most members and opposition from a minority on HB 2194 and HB 2528. The chair announced that HB 2584, HB 2610, and HB 2615 would be scheduled for executive session the following day, with no amendments allowed.
MA

Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Joint Committee on Revenue Jan 27th, 2026

Joint Committee on Revenue

Transcript Highlights:
  • We're requesting some relief to continue what we've been doing, which has been past practice, and hope
  • half that you might see on an even-kill basis is because there probably still is some commercial tax relief
  • half that you might see on an even-kill basis is because there probably still is some commercial tax relief
  • that you might see on an even-kill basis, is because there probably still is some commercial tax relief
Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a hybrid hearing on 17 miscellaneous and late-file bills, with testimony focused on several local tax measures and one statewide tax policy bill. The first major item was H. 4687 for Watertown, which would permanently continue a special property tax classification arrangement allowing the city to maintain a 50% residential minimum factor and a 175% commercial shift. Watertown officials and local legislators said the temporary 2024 law prevented an estimated 18% residential tax increase that would otherwise hit homeowners, especially seniors, and argued the change would preserve the city’s current tax structure without harming commercial growth. Committee members asked about the regional business impact, whether major taxpayers might leave, and the city’s financial reserves; Watertown officials said businesses had not threatened to depart and that the city’s stabilization and free cash balances were being used for debt reduction, infrastructure, and maintaining its bond rating. The committee also heard H. 4435, a Charlemont bill authorizing a tax on commercial recreation services. Town officials said the small rural town has a high property tax burden, limited local capacity, and heavy public safety costs from tourism and recreation activity, and they described the proposal as a locally supported way to have visitors help pay for police, fire, EMS, and infrastructure costs. Members raised legal and policy questions about whether the tax fit within existing tax authority and how it differed from meals and rooms taxes, but the town said the tax would apply to recreation services and had support from local businesses. Finally, the committee heard H. 4722 on fair tax treatment for zero-emission vehicles, especially electric school buses and Class 3-8 trucks. Supporters, including industry representatives and Rep. Gentile, said EV buses and trucks face higher sales and excise taxes because of their higher upfront cost, which discourages adoption even though the vehicles reduce emissions and can lower operating costs over time. They argued the bill would cap tax calculations at the diesel-equivalent value, making the policy revenue-neutral while removing a penalty on electrification. Rep. Gentile also testified for H. 4755, which would amend Sudbury’s means-tested senior property tax exemption so the town would not need new special legislation if the program is renewed again after its current extension expires. No votes were taken, and the hearing concluded after testimony and questions.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Apr 25th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • The health impacts on the women, whether you're talking about damaging and forcing the ultimate removal
  • I believe that in that case, the woman who's been damaged should be able to seek recourse.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs Apr 25th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Including any law of the state imposing criminal penalties on abortion for damages and injunctive relief
  • The damages that state-empowered vigilantes can collect from anyone in the country isn't justice; it's
  • This bill is unscientific, unenforceable, and damaging to more than just trans people.
  • I've heard her tell her story; these are damaged experiences.
KY
Transcript Highlights:
  • </c> Office of the Attorney General, Office of Regulatory Relief, 40, K1210, 1100, 1100, 1100, 12, and
  • Amend requirements for funeral planning declaration forms, cemetery companies, of Regulatory Relief,
  • 40, K1210, of Regulatory Relief, 40, K1210, 1100, 1100, 1100, 12,<00:05:21.840><c> and</c><00:05:22.560
  • "Uh, Steve Humphre is Executive Director of the Kentucky Office of Regulatory Relief."
Summary: The Administrative Regulation Review Subcommittee met for its January meeting, approved the minutes from the prior meeting, and welcomed the new regulations compiler. The first item was a repealer from the Council on Postsecondary Education, 13 KAR 2:111, which was explained as necessary because Senate Bill 77 from the 2025 session removed the regulatory authority for advanced practice doctoral degree programs at comprehensive universities. No questions were raised, and the repealer moved forward without objection. The subcommittee then reviewed a large package of State Board of Elections regulations with staff-suggested amendments. The package would update definitions and election procedures, require e-poll books to be ready before polls open, change the standard and timeline for removing an election officer, add oversight by a State Board appointee on election days, recognize the Kentucky party, require voter registration records to be added to electronic voter records, require ballots to fit all races and questions on a single sheet, adjust precinct consolidation petition deadlines, and update incorporated forms and identification references. The package was approved without objection. The Office of the Attorney General’s Office of Regulatory Relief also presented multiple regulations with staff amendments, covering funeral planning declarations, cemetery companies, pre-need cemetery merchandise and funeral/burial contract sellers, and crematory contract sellers. These changes were described as adding specificity, streamlining forms and reporting, and bringing the regulations into compliance with KRS Chapter 13A; they were approved without objection. The Board of Examiners of Psychology presented several regulations, including compact rules, grace-period extensions, and significant fee increases for applications, renewals, reinstatements, exam retakes, and reciprocity. Board representatives said the increases were needed because many fees had not been raised since 2002, the board was operating at a deficit, and legal and administrative costs had risen sharply after the termination of state legal services. Members expressed concern about the size of the increases, but the chair said he would not hold the matter up and would raise the issue with the committee of jurisdiction. The subcommittee also approved staff amendments for the Energy and Environment Cabinet’s air quality regulations and the Education and Labor Cabinet’s education regulations, which updated nontraditional instruction procedures, waiver requests, instruction topics, superintendent assessment requirements, and academic standards. The meeting ended with the next meeting scheduled for February 9 at 1 p.m., and the agenda was adjourned without further objection.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services May 5th, 2025

Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:
  • make sure that we do this right and that we make sure that... ...we're not impeding on things that damage
  • of our unique location in South Texas, this future plant may be particularly vulnerable to severe storms
  • The district was hit in two ways: one was making repairs to assets that had been damaged by the hurricane
  • Great for our assets in case there's some kind of catastrophe or damage to our system.
  • So if it doesn't land here, we still feel the effects of the storms.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

EIG DEFER, EIG-PSM, EIG Public Hearings 02-10-2026

Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • 25:33.039><c> to</c> If no further questions, we'll turn to Senate Bill 2377 relating to property damage
  • would be covered under the of uh damage would be covered under the broad<00:27:17.039><c> category.
  • </c><00:27:26.880><c> statute</c> So the existing property damage statute is tied to the value of the
  • those lines is significant, damaging those lines is significant, right?
  • Turning to Senate Bill 2377 relating to property damage of critical infrastructure facilities.
Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 2033 on renewable energy, focused on rooftop solar and grid-ready homes. Members discussed amendments intended to clarify retrofit provisions for new homes, cost-sharing requirements for interconnecting customers, compliance with relevant safety standards or certifications, and a date change. The chair recommended passage with amendments, and the committee adopted the recommendation unanimously. The joint committees then heard Senate Bill 2363 on county authority over access to encumbered properties such as streams. The City and County of Honolulu, along with the Department of Transportation and the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney, testified in support, saying the bill would help protect public safety, reduce flood risk, and prevent illicit activity. A Libertarian Party representative opposed the measure, arguing the problem stemmed from mismanagement and that the bill granted overly broad new powers. No action was taken during the hearing. The committees also heard Senate Bill 2054 and Senate Bill 2057, both relating to public safety and immigration-related state authority. Testimony on SB 2054 largely supported limiting state resources for federal or out-of-state deployments when the governor objects, with the Hawaii National Guard raising concerns about unclear obligations for service members and the distinction between Title 10 and Title 32 authority. On SB 2057, supporters including ACLU of Hawaii, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, and the Legal Clinic said the bill would curb cooperation with ICE, protect constitutional rights, and preserve trust in immigrant communities; one witness also noted the rapid growth of 287(g) agreements nationwide. The committee then moved on to SB 2377 on property damage to critical infrastructure, where Charter Communications and Hawaiian Telecom supported the bill and asked for clarification to include broadband and telecommunications, while the Public Defender questioned whether the higher penalty was justified. Finally, the committee began SB 3322 on law enforcement, with testimony emphasizing clearer separation between local police and federal agents, limits on immigration enforcement cooperation, and protections for community trust; the hearing continued with additional testimony and questions.