Transcript Highlights:

• collection of athletic talent of almost any city in this country.
• Eight years later, I urge us to return to that collective responsibility.
• by science, evidence, and the guided by science, evidence, and the trusted<07:28:33.600><c> relationship
• We must unleash our collective outrage. We must demand that no other children...
• Let's collect that for our purposes because we have to spend a lot of money on this.

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, how you collect the signatures, I think, should be driven by how the organization wants to collect
• What, some 300,000 signatures that are collected overall by the end?
• So we only had two and a half months to file the petition and collect enough signatures.
• To file the petition and collect enough signatures.
• There's no way, there's no way nobody can collect, can put a referendum on the ballot.

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 2260, House Joint Resolution 4209, and House Bill 2259, with testimony and questions on each. HB 2260 would require petition signature gatherers to sign and date each petition sheet, provide their address and county, and require voters’ residence addresses for signature verification; supporters said this would improve accountability and help prevent fraud or duplicate signatures, while opponents argued it would burden volunteers, risk disenfranchising voters who move or use incomplete addresses, and add unnecessary penalties. The Secretary of State and former Secretary of State opposed the bill, saying existing verification methods are effective and that the measure could create costly, unintended barriers. HB 2259 would require 1,000 registered-voter signatures before filing an initiative or referendum and prohibit pay-per-signature compensation, with civil penalties and a private right of action; supporters said it would reduce frivolous filings, title shopping, and fraud incentives, while opponents said it would chill initiative activity, especially for rural communities and referenda with tight timelines. The Secretary of State and former Secretary of State also opposed HB 2259, saying the initiative process should remain accessible and that the bill would add barriers and workload. House Joint Resolution 4209 would amend the state constitution to allow the legislature to modify congressional districts mid-decade by simple majority if another state adopts a new congressional map absent a court order. The prime sponsor argued Washington should not unilaterally stay passive if other states engage in partisan mid-decade redistricting, while opponents said the proposal would weaken Washington’s bipartisan redistricting system, set a bad precedent, and invite retaliation. Testimony on the resolution was sharply divided, with supporters warning that partisan redistricting elsewhere threatens fair representation and opponents saying Washington should preserve its existing commission-based process rather than respond in kind. The hearing on HJR 4209 was concluded after testimony. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the excerpt. The chair suspended and reopened hearings as planned, and testimony was taken on all three measures, with HB 2260 and HB 2259 drawing extensive public comment and questions about fraud, access, and administrative burden.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:12:32.480><c> that</c> been reformed despite evidence that been reformed despite evidence that
• supporting those findings the evidence supporting those findings such<00:24:20.559><c> such</c><00:24
• This bill also allows the Office of Elections to designate other state agencies to collect and verify
• and verify this information that collect and verify this information used<01:13:51.520><c> to</c><01
• </c><01:33:53.199><c> of</c> time upon receipt of evidence of time upon receipt of evidence of aggregate

Bills: HB1546

Committee: House Human Services & Homelessness

Summary: The committee heard testimony on HB 2083, which would add homeless shelters to Hawaii’s drug-free/safe-zone protections. The City and County prosecutor’s office strongly supported the bill, saying service providers asked for the change because drug activity near shelters can undermine recovery efforts. The Office of the Public Defender opposed the measure, focusing on a possible notice problem because many shelters are not readily identifiable and the bill’s 750-foot distance requirement could be difficult to apply. The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii also opposed the bill, arguing it would expand criminalization of poverty and drug use and that drug-free zone laws are ineffective and disproportionately harmful. The prosecutor’s office said it would do more research on the notice concern. The committee then moved on without taking a vote in the transcript provided. The committee next discussed HB 2087, which would change the treatment of abuse of family or household member cases by ending the deferred-acceptance pilot and returning to the prior statute. The prosecutor’s office supported the bill, saying the pilot had not reduced backlog as intended and that domestic violence cases should remain petty misdemeanors without deferral. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the Public Defender’s Office both opposed HB 2087, instead urging extension of the pilot for another five years so the legislature can better evaluate how deferred acceptance is working. They said deferrals can be a useful incentive for behavior change and that more data is needed before ending the program. Committee members questioned the prosecutor about why Hawaii should differ from other counties and whether repeat offenders could keep receiving deferrals; the prosecutor said the deferral is available only once and reiterated support for returning to the old statute. The committee then heard HB 2096 on aggravated circumstances in child protective proceedings. The family court and Attorney General’s Office supported the bill, saying current law limits aggravated-circumstances findings to the early return hearing, which can prevent findings in the most serious abuse cases when key evidence is not yet available. They said the bill would allow such findings later in the case and, with proposed amendments, would let the court consolidate aggravated-circumstances and termination-of-parental-rights hearings to reduce delay and appeals. The Libertarian Party of Hawaii opposed the measure, arguing it would expand state power in family matters and could worsen outcomes for parents and children. Committee questions focused on the amended language, including what “another court of competent jurisdiction” means and whether a charge alone would be enough; the judiciary responded that criminal courts are included, but a hearing and opportunity to defend would still be required. Finally, the committee took up HB 1959, another domestic violence measure. The Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Public Defender’s Office, the Crime Victim Compensation Commission, the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, and county prosecuting offices testified in support. Supporters said the bill would extend the pilot program while keeping deferred acceptance of guilty pleas in place, giving more time to evaluate whether the program is working and whether a more formal diversion model should be developed. The coalition also suggested technical fixes to ensure judiciary data reporting continues and that the deferred-acceptance statute is not inadvertently repealed. No vote or final action was taken in the transcript before the committee moved on to the next bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The second is stripping them of their collective bargaining rights.
• The second is stripping them of their collective bargaining rights.
• There are a number of proven providers that are evidence-based operating in the state right now, like
• There are a number of proven providers that are evidence-based operating in the state right now, like
• </c> include policies aligned with evidence include policies aligned with evidence for<01:14:44.639><

Bills: HF1 , HF779 , HF1034

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• As she said, I'm the founder and executive director of True Collective in Taunton.
• And then also attending different events and making sure that we can collect data that way.
• And then also attending different events and making sure that we can collect data that way.
• I mean, nowadays, there's a lot of evidence.
• I'm talking about archival evidence that shows how much the Cabo Verdeans have contributed to the state

Summary: The Cape Verdean Cultural Center Commission met with quorum and began by introducing new commissioners and staff, with Chair Miranda and others emphasizing the long effort to establish the commission and the goal of creating a Cape Verdean cultural center in Boston that would serve the broader Commonwealth. Several commissioners introduced themselves and described their backgrounds in community organizing, education, history, cultural programming, municipal service, and advocacy, with members representing communities including Roxbury, Dorchester, Brockton, New Bedford, Taunton, Scituate, and Cape Cod. The meeting focused on the commission’s mandate: to study the organizational structure, feasibility, and potential location and scope of a Cape Verdean cultural center, and to gather public input through listening sessions and site visits. Members discussed possible approaches, including visits to existing cultural institutions and museums, traditional listening sessions in Cape Verdean communities, and collecting feedback at major Cape Verdean events. Several commissioners stressed the importance of including elders, youth, artists, historians, and existing Cape Verdean organizations, as well as correcting historical myths and increasing visibility of Cape Verdean contributions in local historical societies and public narratives. Funding and logistics were also discussed. Chair Miranda said short-term support might come from earmarks, but the larger funding goal would be a bond bill to seed the project, with private and organizational fundraising to follow later. Commissioners asked about resources for community events and whether a shared repository for ideas could be created; staff said they would explore a platform and send follow-up emails. The commission agreed to continue gathering ideas by email and chat, to consider combining listening sessions across regions, and to hold the next meeting in early April. The meeting minutes from the prior meeting were approved, and the commission adjourned by vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:03:33.120><c> for</c> physical colle physical collections for physical colle physical collections
• </c> well-used part of any library collection well-used part of any library collection in<00:03:58.480
• </c> collection in each region. collection in each region.
• </c> more and more of their collections more and more of their collections budget<00:04:28.720><c> on
• </c> choosing to include in their collection choosing to include in their collection or<00:25:06.159>

Bills: HF3698 , HF3067 , HF3730

Committee: House Education Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that it could interfere with collective that it could interfere with collective bargaining<00:54
• Enforce rape law and collect evidence. Inform victims. Thank you. informed of their rights.
• Enforce rape law and<01:07:39.039><c> collect</c><01:07:39.680><c> evidence.
• </c> and collect evidence. Inform victims. and collect evidence. Inform victims.
• forensic practices for collecting forensic evidence. evidence. evidence.

Transcript Highlights:

• It makes collection harder as well.
• And the cost of EMPERS going out and litigating and collecting from defaulting municipalities across
• Obviously, you had some evidence to get the TRO, or the judge wouldn't have given you the TRO.
• Obviously, you had some evidence to get the TRO, or the judge wouldn't have given you the TRO.
• I've got evidence that this was like a medical condition, not abuse, whatever.

Bills: HB27 , HB71 , HB214 , HB225 , HB244 , HB306 , HB366 , HB446 , HB473 , HB514 , HB1043 , HB1082 , SB127

Committee: House Civil Law and Procedure

Keywords: armed security, liability, concealed carry, self-defense, security officers, property tax, blighted properties, urban rehabilitation, tax exemption, local government, financial incentives, term limits, governor, Louisiana constitution, elections, gubernatorial, constitutional convention, delegates, state election, ratification

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:10:26.800><c> the</c> while the businesses collect the while the businesses collect the revenue
• Over the past two years, the evidence has become unmistakable.
• Yeah, and I think that's evident too.
• </c><00:53:31.280><c> that</c> that there is really clear evidence that that there is really clear evidence
• I mean, in I I think that's evident too.

Transcript Highlights:

• Lillian is a junior from Vanita, which is how they say hi in Vanita, evidently.
• Lillian is a senior from Vinita, evidently.
• specializes in supporting children diagnosed with autism and their families through individualized, evidence-based
• Coach Reese has added a fifth gold ball to his collection, but the 2026 state champions in Class B-2

Summary: The House convened, the roll was called, and members proceeded through the day’s order of business, including prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, introductions, and routine floor announcements. Chaplain Ronnie Wilson delivered the invocation, and Chief Master Sergeant Walter Kula Jr., U.S. Air Force retired, was recognized as Veteran of the Day for more than 26 years of service and continued civic leadership. The House also welcomed student pilots from multiple countries training at Vance Air Force Base, social workers and social work students for Legislative, Education, and Advocacy Day, and a group of pages introduced by the Majority Leader. Several honorees were presented to the chamber, including Doctor of the Day Chanel Gray of Tallahena Hospital/Choctaw Nation Hospital, Psychologist of the Day Dr. Mary Shepard, and Nurse of the Day Robin George. Members also recognized the Edmond Memorial Bulldogs palm squad for a fifth consecutive 6A large mixed state championship and the Dover Longhorns basketball team for winning the Class B-2 state title. Additional floor remarks included birthday greetings and a poem directed at Representative Anthony Moore. The transcript does not show debate on substantive legislation or recorded votes. The only formal action reflected at the end was a motion to adjourn, and the House agreed to stand adjourned until Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• And even though they're reporting to law enforcement, making sure that by preponderance of evidence,
• And even though they're reporting to law enforcement, making sure that by preponderance of evidence,
• attention that a hospital might have billed a sexual assault victim for a forensic exam, which is the collection
• of criminal evidence when that's against the law.

Committee: Senate Health and Welfare

Transcript Highlights:

• to make on that is rather than having to show that the person did it every time, if there's new evidence
• This measure calls for the collection of DNA upon felony arrest.
• of another sample that could potentially be used as evidence in a prosecution.
• of another sample that could potentially be used as evidence in a prosecution.
• By 20, she had published<00:46:20.200><c> a</c><00:46:20.280><c> full</c><00:46:20.680><c> collection

Transcript Highlights:

• Any expansion should be evidence-based, locally tailored, and fully funded.
• Any expansion should be evidence-based, locally tailored, and fully funded.
• It's trying to restrict access to the polls, and we, I think, collectively, are trying to make sure that
• process is critical because it gives communities a way to come forward with other data sources and evidence
• That formula starts with taking census data that is collected at the block level, and then it has to

Summary: The Senate Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments heard several election-related measures. SB 884 by Senator Umberg would expand electioneering buffer zones around polling places and ballot-processing sites, restrict law enforcement activity near voting locations except for crimes against persons or property, expand ballot drop box and vote center access, and extend the vote-by-mail receipt deadline. Supporters said it would protect voters from intimidation and interference; county election officials opposed it as operationally burdensome and difficult to enforce. The committee discussed amendments narrowing some provisions, and the bill was ultimately advanced on a 4-1 vote, with Senator Choi voting no. The committee also heard SB 1164 by Senator Cervantes, part of the California Voting Rights Act of 2026 package, which would codify and expand state voting-rights protections against vote dilution and voter suppression, add preclearance for certain jurisdictions with recent violations, and direct courts to interpret election laws in favor of voter access. Support came from civil rights and voting rights groups, while one city representative raised concerns about effects on pending litigation. Senator Choi questioned the bill’s concepts, but the measure was moved to Judiciary and later recorded as passing 4-1. SB 900 by Senator McNerney would shorten and streamline campaign-ad disclosure language, allow abbreviations, and increase the number of top funders listed on political mailers from three to five. Outdoor advertising and good-government groups supported the bill as improving readability while preserving transparency. It passed to Appropriations on a 5-0 vote. The committee also considered SB 1225 and SCA 3 by Senator Niello, which would shift responsibility for initiative titles and summaries from the Attorney General to the Legislative Analyst’s Office; supporters argued this would improve neutrality, while labor groups opposed the change as unnecessary and less accountable. Both measures were advanced to Appropriations after divided votes. Finally, SB 1360 by Senator Cervantes would expand election language-access requirements beyond current federal thresholds and add a petition process for undercounted language communities. It drew broad support from civil rights and advocacy organizations, with county election officials seeking amendments over implementation details; the bill passed 5-0 after the committee completed roll calls on the absent members.

Transcript Highlights:

• And the plan must include evidence-based interventions aligned with instruction. ...individual needs.
• And the plan must include evidence-based interventions aligned with instructional best practices in reading
• And that's going to cause some of these clients to also have collections maybe of anywhere from $1,000
• here is, you know, you need to terminate your policy, and failure to terminate will put it into collections
• It requires the contracted entity to provide regular reports to the board for data collection in the

Bills: S0042 , S0196 , S0878 , S0902 , S0914 , S1092 , S1168 , S1340 , S1404 , S1414 , S1684 , S1686

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services met to hear and vote on a series of health, human services, and education-related bills, along with a presentation of the committee’s proposed HHS budget. The budget was described as increasing by more than $2.1 billion over the current base, with major funding highlighted for Medicaid and KidCare, rural health, provider rate increases, child welfare, mental health and substance use, opioid treatment, Alzheimer’s initiatives, cancer research, ADAP, veterans’ services, and IT modernization. Public testimony on the budget focused heavily on AIDS Drug Assistance Program funding and concerns about Department of Health changes affecting access, premium assistance, notice, and continuity of care for people living with HIV/AIDS. Among the bills reported favorably were measures on podiatric medicine and tissue-based products (SB 1092), background screening and clearinghouse procedures (SB 1168), child protective investigations involving specific medical diagnoses and second opinions (SB 42), clinical laboratory personnel licensure standards (SB 878), uterine fibroid data tracking and research (SB 196), medical marijuana treatment center oversight and related health provisions (SB 902), dyslexia and dyscalculia screening and intervention in schools (SB 1340), memory care licensure for assisted living facilities (SB 1404), congenital CMV education materials (SB 1414), Parkinson’s disease registry and related public records exemption bills (SB 1684 and SB 1686), and occupational therapy dry needling licensure standards (SB 914). Several bills were amended before passage, including SB 1092, SB 42, SB 902, SB 1684, and SB 1404. Testimony generally came from professional associations, advocacy groups, and affected stakeholders, with support voiced for most measures. The committee adopted amendments on the floor, heard no opposition during debate on the bills described, and then voted to report each measure favorably. At the end of the meeting, senators requested to be recorded in the affirmative on selected bills, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Our work is centered around data and evidence to provide insight into whether a program is working and
• Um, so collectively we found that these Um, so collectively we found that these programs collected over
• We support everything that we put in our reports with data and evidence, and I stand behind that 100%

Bills: SB197 , HB140 , SB214 , HB214 , HB147 , HB270 , SB73

Committee: House Fiscal Responsibility

Keywords: business regulation, nonprofit entities, electronic filing, merger agreements, limited liability companies, partnerships, property transfer, termination fees, HB140, private sewer systems, wastewater utilities, Public Service Commission, PSC jurisdiction, utility regulation, rate setting, rate consolidation, affiliated systems, common ownership, private utilities, sewer rates

Transcript Highlights:

• There was also no evidence that it increased people having access to health care.
• There was also no evidence that it increased people having access to health care.
• There was also no evidence that it increased people having access to health care.
• And there was no evidence versus not.
• </c> that's some data we can try to collect that's some data we can try to collect on<00:58:25.119><c

Bills: HR1

Committee: House Human Services Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• Our data analytics team supports evidence-based decision-making across the highway, rail and transit,
• The drone operations program collects huge amounts of data on our transportation assets and translates
• I have collected over the years many, many complaints about the RIDE and the user's experience on the
• I have collected over the years, you know, many, many, many, complete.
• All the evidence. All the evidence. We're just having enough to answer the question. Yeah, good.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing at UMass Amherst on Governor Healey’s fiscal year 2027 budget, focusing on energy/environment-related transportation issues and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. The chairs and members opened with thanks to UMass, university leadership, court officers, and legislative staff, and Chancellor Javier Reyes highlighted UMass Amherst’s research, workforce, sustainability, and transportation contributions, including energy research, transit operations, and partnerships with MassDOT. The hearing then moved to MassDOT and MBTA testimony on the administration’s transportation funding package, including House 2, the FY26 Fair Share supplemental, and a proposed four-year Chapter 90 authorization. MassDOT officials described the budget as part of a broader multi-year transportation investment strategy, citing funding for operations, snow and ice removal, regional transit authorities, the MBTA, the Merit Rating Board, sustainable aviation fuel credits, micro-transit and last-mile grants, unpaved road improvements, bridge and pavement work, and housing-related transportation infrastructure. They emphasized workforce expansion, capital delivery capacity, safety improvements, and local aid, including the new lane-mile-based Chapter 90 formula intended to benefit rural communities. Officials also discussed major projects and programs such as Grant Central, culvert and unpaved road grants, work zone speed cameras, congestion hotspot fixes, the Sagamore and Bourne Bridge projects, and MBTA operating support and safety upgrades. Testimony from the MBTA and rail/transit staff focused on improved ridership, service frequency, accessibility, and safety, including progress on the Green Line Train Protection System, reduced delays, expanded bus and commuter rail service, and the South Coast rail extension. Regional transit authorities reported increased ridership and described new fare-free, connectivity, and community transit grants. Aeronautics testimony covered airport capital work, drone and data programs, sustainable aviation fuel efforts, and workforce development in aviation maintenance. Committee members then asked questions, especially about Western Massachusetts priorities, Chapter 90 funding, bridge repairs, snow and ice costs, Cape Cod bridges, Buzzard’s Bay rail, and Compass Rail/West-East Rail. Officials said several federal rail grants were moving forward, that Sagamore Bridge procurement would begin soon, and that the administration remained committed to pursuing federal funding and multi-year transportation investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• signatures and pleading guilty to collecting and forging signatures.
• There is no evidence of why. Designed to disenfranchise.
• There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Arizona.
• This resolution is not about fiscal responsibility; it is about silencing the collective voice.
• The last thing they need is a constitutional amendment designed to weaken their collective voice.

Summary: The House convened, completed roll call, approved the journal, and took up several Senate bills and one Senate concurrent resolution through motions to reconsider, return bills for reconsideration, and refer measures to additional Committee of the Whole sessions for further amendment. Early actions included returning SB 1175 and SB 1198 to the Senate for reconsideration, rescinding passage of SB 1336 so it could be reconsidered, and referring SB 1111 and SB 152 to an additional COW. The House also recognized Representative Travers for a personal privilege statement honoring National Women Veterans Recognition Day and recorded attendance. In Committee of the Whole, members adopted floor amendments and recommended passage for SB 1511, SB 1552, SB 1198, SB 1110, SB 1618, SB 1431, and SCR 1004, with some debate on SB 1110’s home-confinement/reentry program, SB 1618’s Military Affairs Commission changes, and SB 1431’s city and town authority over residential project standards and streetscapes. The House later adopted the COW reports and moved the measures to engrossing or third reading as appropriate. SB 1336 and SB 1519 were also advanced from committee, while SB 1004 was reconsidered and ultimately failed on reconsideration. On third or final reading, the House passed SB 1127, SB 1180, SB 1428, SB 1198, SB 1336, SB 1511, SCR 1004, SB 1552, HB 2104, HB 2105, HB 2114, HB 2311, HB 2729, and HB 4117. SB 1687, SB 1004, SB 1519, and SB 1502 failed. Members explained votes on several measures, including support for tax administration clarity in SB 1180, objections and support for the May primary proposal in SB 1687, concerns about sex offender monitoring in SB 1004, support for the Arizona Beef Council in SB 1198, and debate over the photo enforcement referral in SCR 1004. The session also included recesses for caucuses, lunch, and dinner, plus a brief technical outage of the live stream.

Transcript Highlights:

• What actual evidence besides your own opinion do you have to support this amendment?
• Members, it astonishes me how we can all never let evidence inherit with opinion.
• Members, it astonishes me how we can all never let evidence inherit with opinion.
• And now we have the evidence of it. And so it really just should not exist.
• How many unions are currently at impasse in the collective bargaining?

Transcript Highlights:

• The Senate amendment removes the prohibition on ADOT collecting, storing, or using biometric identifiers
• certificate holder if there is substantive, thorough corroboration of records, other witnesses, pattern evidence
• It strikes a burden of proof language that requires clear and convincing evidence and strikes board liability

Summary: The caucus reviewed a series of Senate-amended bills, with staff summarizing each measure and noting whether the sponsor intended to concur. HB 2305 would revise Arizona’s private towing laws and remove a requirement that municipalities or law enforcement enforce the prescribed towing rates; HB 2398 would impose insurance requirements for watercraft rentals, charters, and peer-to-peer sharing; HB 2957 would bar state and local governments from requiring a digital or mobile driver’s license for identification, while dropping a House provision on biometric identifiers. Members asked for Senate vote counts on several bills and clarified that HB 2305 and HB 2398 were separate from other towing and boot-related measures. The committee also discussed HB 2321, which requires DCS caseworkers to place a security freeze on a child’s credit record after entry into care, with the Senate removing a $100,000 appropriation and one FTE; HB 2408, which changes Nursing Board complaint and expungement procedures and expands how anonymous complaints may be investigated; HB 2397, which updates HOA/condo disclosure rules and drew noted opposition from the Community Associations Institute and home builders; HB 4005, which requires public school districts to provide AI instruction at specific grade levels and directs ADE to adopt curriculum; and HB 2755, which shifts state land lease renewal language to notice and sale procedures for underperforming commercial leases. Senate vote counts were provided for several of these measures, generally showing narrow or party-line margins. The final items were HB 2406, a heavily amended bill now restricting access to records and images related to deceased minors, including child abuse images, with supporters citing concerns about misuse through AI and opponents raising disclosure and media-access concerns; and HCR 2001, a ballot referral on citizenship, voting, and election-related contributions that was substantially narrowed in the Senate but still requires voter ID, limits voting to citizens, bars foreign nationals from election spending, and mandates on-site tabulation for early votes, prompting continued county opposition because of cost and implementation concerns. The caucus ended after members were reminded that the agenda and caucus sheets had been emailed rather than printed.