Video & Transcript Research : 'faith-based organizations'

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FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Judiciary Jan 20th, 2026

Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:
  • Senate Bill 624 authorizes Batterers Intervention Programs to offer supplemental faith-based activities
  • However, no participant may be required to participate in a faith-based activity while in the program
  • DCF currently allows BIP providers to include supplemental faith-based activities, but the faith-based
  • Does the fact that these courses are going to be provided by a faith-based organization mean they're
  • faith-based?
Summary: The committee considered several bills and reported each favorably. SB 624, by Senator Yarborough, would allow batterers intervention programs to offer optional supplemental faith-based activities, with no participant required to take part. Supporters said it would expand provider options and help address a shortage of certified programs; opponents raised concerns about mixing government-ordered programming with religion and about the state’s prior rule change. The bill passed 7-2. The committee also approved CS/SB 834, which repeals a 2022 restriction barring licensed insurance agents from partnering with health care sharing ministries to market or sell their programs. The sponsor and supporters argued the bill restores free speech, consumer choice, and access to faith-based alternatives, while opponents warned about consumer confusion, higher commissions, and weak protections because these ministries are not insurance. After extended debate, the measure passed 8-2. Other measures advanced unanimously or near-unanimously. CS/SB 502, as amended, would give Florida concurrent jurisdiction over certain juvenile offenses on military installations so juveniles can be handled in the state system; it passed 9-0. CS/SB 52 would exempt volunteer armed security for houses of worship from Class D or G licensing requirements, and supporters cited rising threats to churches and the need for organized volunteer security; it passed 9-0. SB 840, a cleanup bill to narrow and clarify last year’s emergency-related land-use restrictions after hurricanes, also passed 9-0, and CS/SB 758, which updates the membership of the Justice Administration Commission, passed 9-0 after an amendment restoring two public defenders to the commission.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Children, Families, and Elder Affairs Jan 12th, 2026

Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Faith-based batterers intervention programs really are vital to our communities in Florida.
  • In 2022, career officials of the DCF unilaterally excluded faith-based providers from Florida's state-based
  • In 2022, career officials of the DCF unilaterally excluded faith-based providers from Florida's state-based
  • that excluding faith-based programs is not just discriminatory.
  • And finally, the bill addresses best practices of community-based care lead organizations.
Bills: S0042, S0578, S0624, S7018
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and first heard SB 624, which would codify DCF’s current practice of allowing batterers intervention programs to offer supplemental faith-based activities so long as participation is voluntary. The bill drew support from faith-based and family organizations, which argued it would restore access to effective rehabilitation options and remove discriminatory barriers. SB 624 was reported favorably after a roll call vote. The committee then heard SB 42, which would require child protective investigators and child protection teams to rely on qualified medical professionals when a child has a documented pre-existing diagnosis or when a parent requests an exam, and would require clearer notice to parents and custodians at the start of an investigation. Testimony overwhelmingly came from parents, advocates, and disability rights representatives describing cases in which medically complex children were allegedly misdiagnosed as abuse victims and families were separated unnecessarily. Members expressed sympathy and support, and SB 42 was reported favorably. Next, the committee considered CS/SB 578, creating an Alzheimer’s disease awareness initiative within the Department of Elder Affairs to promote early detection, brain health education, research updates, and clinical trial awareness, with outreach focused on older adults and at-risk populations. An amendment was adopted to place the campaign within the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative. A caregiver testified about the need for public education and early diagnosis, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also took up SPB 7018, a committee bill on child welfare that would extend the definition of “visitor” for foster homes to reduce repeated background checks, make the Step Into Success foster youth workforce pilot permanent and statewide, and create a program through the Florida Institute for Child Welfare to catalog best practices among community-based care lead agencies. The bill was approved as a committee bill and reported favorably. Finally, the Department of Children and Families presented its 2025-26 final funding methodology and rates report for community-based care. Members questioned the proposed tiered model, including insurance costs, risk corridors, prevention funding, performance measures, and regional funding disparities. No vote was taken on the presentation, but members discussed the possible need for follow-up legislation and additional stakeholder input.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Criminal Justice Jan 12th, 2026

Criminal Justice

Transcript Highlights:
  • Entry into the program is based on the sentencing court's assessment of the defendant's criminal history
  • We've seen too many tragedies nationwide, and Florida's faith communities deserve the tools to respond
  • The issue is whether a group of volunteers may organize themselves, or be organized by the institution
  • It has to be for the purpose of benefiting the gang or the criminal organization.
  • There has to be that nexus between the criminal conduct and the gang organization or activity.
Summary: The committee met with a quorum and considered several criminal justice bills. SB 50 on Veterans Treatment Courts was amended to clarify that entry into the program requires approval of the state attorney and to make the bill prospective only. Supporters, including veterans advocates and crime survivors, argued the bill would expand access to treatment-focused diversion for veterans with nonviolent charges and service-related trauma. The committee adopted both amendments and reported the bill favorably. SB 52, which creates an exemption from security licensing requirements for unpaid armed volunteers providing security at places of worship, also drew support from law enforcement and faith leaders who said it would clarify a legal gray area for churches; the committee adopted a strike-all amendment and reported the bill favorably. The committee then considered SB 436 on felony battery and prison release reoffender enhancements. An amendment was adopted to align felony battery involving injury to law enforcement with the bill’s intent to address the disparity between battery on an officer and resisting with violence. Members discussed concerns about mandatory minimums and the scope of the enhancement, including how it might apply in cases involving older prior offenses or mental health crises, but the bill was ultimately reported favorably. SB 676, which creates graduated penalties for adults who involve minors in animal cruelty offenses and increases penalties for related conduct, was supported by animal welfare advocates and reported favorably and unanimously. Later, the committee approved SB 536 on criminal gang members after adopting an amendment clarifying the definition of gang-related conduct and requiring multiple criteria for gang membership. Members raised concerns about social media, neighborhood association, juvenile application, and overbroad labeling, but the sponsor said the bill was aimed at gang-related criminal activity and recruitment, not innocent association. The committee also reported favorably SB 432 on controlled substances, which adds concentrated 7-OH to Schedule I and creates penalties for xylazine products that resemble candy or food and for trafficking in xylazine; SB 524, an FDLE bill updating duties related to medical examiners, training, and complaint service procedures; and SB 590, which tolls the statute of limitations for failure-to-report child abuse offenses until the crime is known to law enforcement. All of these bills were reported favorably, and the meeting adjourned after a final vote correction was entered for SB 524.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Insurance Apr 2nd, 2025

Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • 3320 has to do with the establishment of a new construct in Texas, which would allow churches and faith-based
  • , not-for-profit organizations to pool.
  • Faith-based centers, correct? I should let you lay this out; you understand this extremely well.
  • By pooling resources, these faith organizations can collectively insure their properties at a lower cost
  • I'm not going to pretend that y'all have good faith.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

Insurance Apr 2nd, 2025

Insurance

Transcript Highlights:
  • The Insurance Institute of Business and Home Safety, IBHS, is a scientific research organization that
  • Again, I'm with the National Association. ...mutual insurance companies, national organization.
NM

New Mexico 2026 Regular Session

Senate - Rules Feb 13th, 2026 at 09:19 am

Senate Rules

Transcript Highlights:
  • And there are very few evidence-based or research-based youth violence prevention or intervention services
  • And there are very few evidence-based or research-based youth violence prevention or intervention services
  • that exist across ...based or research-based youth violence prevention or intervention services that
  • organizations have a seat at the table.
  • We're an Albuquerque-based community organization that partners with young people impacted by youth justice
Bills: SM20, SM9, SJR6, HB124
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • the first two years, but within just a few weeks, it transitioned into many other areas. types of organized
  • Based foul lines of what the state is authorized to do. I want to hear the testimony.
  • previous Attorneys General have all been more than willing to go to federal court, seeking relief based
  • The laws that we pass are based upon the authority of the state over state officers as opposed to the
  • In fact, I and our organization helped write it in the early days.
TX
Transcript Highlights:
  • of Christ, have created a curriculum called Our Whole Lives, which is used to teach young people a faith-based
  • Such as this one would effectively ban books that get used in thoughtful, age-appropriate faith-based
  • This bill is attempting to define men and women based on the reproductive organs they are born with.
  • I'm the political director at the Texas Freedom Network, an organization made up of parents, faith leaders
  • for faith, family, and freedom.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

State Affairs (Part II) May 15th, 2025

State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • Christ, have created a curriculum called *Our Whole Lives*, which is used to teach young people a faith-based
  • that bills such as this one would effectively ban books that get used in thoughtful, age-appropriate faith-based
  • This bill is attempting to define men and women based on the reproductive organs they are born with and
  • I'm the political director at the Texas Freedom Network, an organization made up of parents, faith leaders
  • for faith, family, and freedom.
Summary: The committee took up House Bill 186, which would require social media platforms to verify users are 18 or older before allowing account creation. Invited witnesses in support, including Mary Elizabeth Castle and David Dunmoyer, argued the bill would protect children from harmful algorithms, addictive design, bullying, sexual exploitation, and mental health harms, and emphasized parental rights and the idea that minors should not enter binding contracts with platforms. Committee members questioned them about how algorithms work, whether parents could realistically monitor content, and whether the bill would still allow educational use; the witnesses said the bill was narrowly aimed at harmful social media use and not educational content. Public testimony on HB 186 was largely in opposition, though several student witnesses said they supported the bill’s goals but wanted the age lowered to 16 or the bill amended to allow parental consent or joint accounts. Opponents argued the bill would be ineffective because teens could bypass age checks, would cut off access to educational tools, school communications, recruiting and NIL opportunities, and would burden free speech and privacy. Some witnesses also said social media helps teens with mental health, community, and creative or professional opportunities, while others warned the bill could disproportionately harm disabled and marginalized users. After public testimony closed, HB 186 was left pending. The committee then heard House Bill 5138, which Chairman Hughes said would respond to a court ruling limiting the Attorney General’s authority to prosecute election crimes unless invited by local prosecutors by changing the statute to require AG prosecution. Public testimony on HB 5138 was brief and opposed by at least one witness who argued it would further erode local control and expand state preemption. The bill was left pending after testimony. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 3225, a library bill aimed at keeping sexually explicit books and materials out of children’s sections in municipal libraries and requiring age verification for checkout, including digital access, with parental consent and other revisions added in the House. Supporters said the bill would protect children from explicit material and keep such content in adult sections, while opponents argued it would amount to censorship, be costly and difficult to implement, and could be used to target LGBTQ+ or other marginalized content. Library workers, parents, students, and advocates testified that existing library sections already separate age-appropriate materials and that the bill could reduce access to books, burden libraries, and infringe on parental choice and free expression.
MN

Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

House Taxes Committee 3/17/26

Taxes

Transcript Highlights:
  • And thank you for what your<00:18:22.320><c> organization</c><00:18:22.960><c> does.
  • Very, very, very your organization does. Very, very, very important. important. important.
  • on the language and how think, um, based on the language and how it's<00:19:18.640><c> written,</c><
  • Without this data, any statewide health insurance plan will be based on guesswork.
  • Without this data, any statewide health insurance plan will be based on guesswork.
TX

Texas 89th Regular

S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education Mar 5th, 2025

S/C on Academic & Career-Oriented Education

Transcript Highlights:
  • Currently, we're assisting the Tarrant 2 and Through, or T3 organization, with a higher 200 campaign,
  • I am in my 29th year of representing that organization.
  • So that would be determined based on the level of of the course in that program of study.
  • credentials and the difference between the two is industry-based credential is very elementary.
  • And they get part of their funding is based on those students actually had to find a job.
Bills: HB20, HB 120, HB20, HB120
LA

Louisiana 2026 Regular Session

Appropriations Apr 27th, 2026

Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:
  • If the organization is within the sphere, yes.
  • It attempts to establish the Belle Chasse Bridge merit-based fund.
  • and community-based mental health and support services.
  • And they don't score fiscal notes based on the total cost of care.
  • So what has happened over time is that the hospital-based groups...
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Mar 12th, 2026 at 09:00 am

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill does not mandate how organizations use the money because we love local control and we're going
  • to let the organizations and economic development across the entire state of Oklahoma who apply for
  • This bill does not require it to be used to bring anyone in the state based on political beliefs.
  • This bill just organizes this process for students by having the schools put their dates and testing
OK

Oklahoma 2026 Regular Session

Senate Legislative Session Mar 12th, 2026

Oklahoma Senate Floor Meeting

Transcript Highlights:
  • This bill does not mandate how organizations use the money because we love local control, and we're going
  • to let the organizations and economic development across the entire state of Oklahoma who apply for
  • It is not requiring it to be used to bring anyone in the state based on political beliefs.
  • It is not to be used to bring anyone in the state based on political beliefs.
  • This bill just organizes this process for students by having the schools put their dates and testing
Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered the invocation, and recognized the Doctor of the Day and several visiting groups in the galleries. The chamber then moved through a series of bills, with most of the action focused on third reading, amendments, and final passage votes. Senator Coleman’s motion to reconsider the failed vote on SB 1696 passed, allowing the bill to be taken up again. SB 1696, described by Senator Coleman as a rural economic development measure with no fiscal impact, passed on final passage and then passed again as an emergency measure after several senators changed votes from no to yes. SB 1670, as amended to add defense to the industries covered by its technology-transfer guidance, passed unanimously and was declared an emergency measure. SB 1687, which would strengthen Service Oklahoma’s authority regarding written driver’s tests and extend learner’s permit timing, was amended to delete unclear language and restore the title, then passed unanimously. SB 1975, which reorganizes how schools publicize AP testing dates, locations, and sign-up information, drew questions about compliance and implementation but no opposition; it passed unanimously and was also declared an emergency measure. After the bills were disposed of, members made personal announcements, including congratulations for a new grandchild and upcoming birthdays, and the Senate adjourned until Monday, March 16, 2026.
HI

Hawaii 2026 Regular Session

HSH Public Hearing - Tue Feb 3, 2026 @ 9:00 AM HST

Human Services & Homelessness

Transcript Highlights:
  • This measure would provide critical funding to DHS so that community-based organizations can keep up
  • <c> nonprofit</c><01:21:00.720><c> organizations</c> community-based nonprofit organizations community-based
  • Community-based organizations like ours are on the front lines of care.
  • Community-based organizations like ours are on the front lines of care.
  • 59.000><c> true</c> community-based organizations are true community-based organizations are true partners
Summary: The committee opened its first meeting of the 2020 session and heard testimony on several measures, beginning with HB 1518, which would allow people incarcerated and nearing release to apply for SNAP benefits before release. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and the Department of Human Services said they support the bill and are already piloting a pre-release application process at two facilities, with plans to expand it. The Attorney General’s Office supported the intent but noted a technical issue: one section of the bill appears to affect TANF as well as SNAP, while the title refers only to SNAP. A wide range of advocates, including Catholic Charities, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Hunger Action Network, Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, ACLU of Hawaii, and others, testified in strong support, emphasizing food insecurity after release, reentry stability, and reduced recidivism. The committee did not take a vote during the hearing. The committee then heard HB 1747, which would direct the Department of Human Services to seek federal waivers or extensions related to restricting certain SNAP purchases, including sugary drinks. DHS said it had already been approved for a narrow demonstration waiver and was working with retailers on implementation, with a target date of August 1. Supporters of the measure argued it would promote healthier choices, while opponents, including Hawaii Appleseed, the Hawaii Public Health Institute, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and the Hawaii Food Industry Association, said such restrictions are ineffective, stigmatize low-income residents, create burdens for retailers and DHS, and may be difficult to implement. Members asked DHS to clarify the scope of the waiver and confirmed it applies to sugary drinks and beverages containing more than 10 grams of sugar. Finally, the committee took up HB 1705, which would allow licensed mental health counselors to serve as child custody evaluators, but there was no testimony from the relevant agencies and the item was quickly set aside. The committee also heard HB 1565, which would establish a judiciary working group to improve family court processes and legal representation for youth in the child welfare system. The Attorney General’s Office offered minor technical amendments, and supporters from the Office of Wellness and Resilience, High Hopes Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, and a social work student described the need for legal representation, citing better reunification and stability outcomes and the importance of youth voice in court proceedings. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the meeting provided.
FL

Florida 2026 Regular Session

Community Affairs Jan 20th, 2026

Community Affairs

Transcript Highlights:
  • agreed to by stakeholders that protects co-ops' authority to choose generation and purchase power based
  • You know, I’m very involved with that organization and with all the representatives in my district.
  • Plan-based methodology will cover that.
  • Plan-based methodology will cover that.
  • The idea of going toward a plan-based methodology is a positive concept and one that we support.
Summary: The committee met with a quorum present and took up a series of local claims, public records, growth management, permitting, and nuisance bills. It first heard and approved SB 16, SB 14, and SB 24, all uncontested claims bills providing relief related to injuries or settlements involving the City of St. Petersburg and Miami-Dade County. The committee also approved SB 288 on rural electric cooperatives, which narrows statutory language to protect co-op decisions on generation and power purchases while preserving consumer protections, and SB 830, which creates a public records exemption for certain personal information of county and city managers and their families due to reported threats against local officials. Members then considered SB 1138 on qualified contractors and development review, which would create a registry of licensed professionals to help local governments process pre-application reviews and plats more quickly. Local government groups raised concerns about preemption and preserving quasi-judicial authority, while private-provider supporters backed the bill; Senator Sharief voted no, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee also approved SB 168, expanding public nuisance law to include gambling houses and increasing penalties, and SB 686 on agricultural enclaves, which revises the enclave process, adds a public hearing path, limits it to certain residential projects in urban service areas, and was amended to change a date to June 30, 2026 before being reported favorably. The committee next approved CS for SB 548 on growth management and impact fees, which clarifies plan-based methodology, extraordinary circumstances, interlocal agreements, and refund procedures for improper fee collections. Testimony reflected support for clearer standards but also concerns about fee increases and refund administration. Finally, SB 1234 on building permits and inspections was reported favorably; it would extend permit validity, exempt some low-value work from permitting, create a statewide residential permit form, speed review timelines, and expand private-provider use, drawing opposition from a Miami-Dade building official who argued for continued local oversight and support from private-provider advocates. Senator Jones requested to be recorded as voting affirmatively on several tabs and negatively on tab 9, and the committee adjourned after all bills were disposed of.