Video & Transcript Research : 'historical reference'
Page 101 of 500
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- It references the budget.
- You were talking about the, and I was listening very carefully, but you referred to the Institute of,
- And there are a lot of areas where we've done that historically on lots of topics we could discuss.
- They are investing in infrastructure at a high rate to serve historic load growth.
- And so they're dropping below their historical ROI, which is alarming to rating agencies?
Bills:
HB106, HB144, HB145, HB252, HB1732, HB2221, HB2467, HB2468, HB2517, HB2518, HB2963, HB3016, HB3689, HB3960, HB4386, HB4490, HB4751, HB5247, HJR175, HB2213, HB106, HB144, HB145, HB252
Keywords:
HB 106, oil and gas, Railroad Commission of Texas, overhead electrical lines, electrical distribution system, power line maintenance, administrative penalty, Natural Resources Code, oil and gas lease, well operator, energy safety, utility infrastructure, regulatory compliance, cleanup fund, oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund, production safety, leasehold operations, electric utility, distribution poles, inspection
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 13 (1-23-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- <00:10:55.120>
to <00:10:55.279>yesterday, <00:10:56.000>the McCracken referred - to yesterday, the McCracken referred to yesterday, the dreaded<00:10:57.040>
whitetail <00:10: - Uh, we've seen it historically in some of our darker moments when you did not have ownership of your
- Uh we've seen it historically<00:19:55.679>
in <00:19:55.840>some <00:19:55.919>of - c><00:19:56.000>
our <00:19:56.160>darker historically in some of our darker historically
Keywords:
Convene 00:00
Senate Message 04:41
Calendar/2nd Readings 05:37
Orders of the Day 06:14
HB 312 06:41
Interrupted Stream 38:41, 958, all
Summary:
The House convened with an invocation focused on the approaching storm and the need to check on neighbors, first responders, hospitals, and vulnerable residents. A quorum was established, absent members were excused, the rules were suspended for co-sponsorship and vote modification filings, and the journal from Thursday, January 22, 2026 was approved. The clerk also reported Senate passage of SB 13, 22, 46, 51, and 90 and requested concurrence.
Under orders of the day, HB 258 was recommitted to the Transportation Committee. The chamber then took up HB 312, an act relating to concealed firearms and deadly weapons, which would create a provisional concealed carry license for law-abiding 18- to 20-year-olds. The sponsor argued the bill restores equal treatment for adults, aligns Kentucky with other states, and imposes training and background-check requirements. Supporters said the Second Amendment applies to this age group, that military service and other adult responsibilities are already entrusted to them, and that the bill would not change prohibited locations for firearms.
Opponents argued the measure would increase gun violence and public safety risks, citing concerns from school district police, SROs, and empirical research about firearm-related assaults, homicides, and brain development in young adults. They emphasized that concealed weapons reduce visibility for parents, schools, and law enforcement and pointed to local youth-violence prevention efforts in Lexington as progress that could be undermined. Supporters countered that defensive gun use is common, that the CDC and other studies overstate gun harms, and that the bill is about constitutional rights rather than hunting or alcohol analogies. The transcript provided does not include the final vote on HB 312.
FL
Florida 2026 5th Special Session
Appropriations Apr 2nd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- The budget also recommends $63 million in base budget reductions based on historical reversions, ensuring
- Major issues include the transportation work program at $15 billion, library, cultural, and historical
- Major issues include the transportation work program at $15 billion, library, cultural, and historical
- This makes technical corrections to remove a reference to sole proprietorship from the definition of
- Again, I would refer you to Arkansas Times v.
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee met for Budget Day and heard presentations on the Senate’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, SPB 25-200, totaling $117.4 billion. Chair Hooper said the plan reduces overall spending from the prior year, keeps strong reserves, includes a 4% pay raise for state employees, maintains employee health care contributions, and makes major investments in water quality, transportation, and education infrastructure. Committee chairs then summarized their budget silos, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and agriculture/environment/general government. Members asked questions mainly about school funding, AP and dual enrollment support, voucher and scholarship impacts, and the My Safe Florida Home program.
The committee adopted a large consent package of amendments and then approved three late-file amendments: funding virtual college tours for high school students, funding the FSU Sunshine Genetics program, and providing money for the Port of Fernandina customs facility. The committee then voted to report SPB 2500, the General Appropriations Bill, as a committee bill. It also favorably reported SPB 2502 (implementing bill), SPB 2504 (state employees placeholder), SB 7022 (Florida Retirement System contribution rates and DROP changes), CS/SB 1320 (recreating the Resilient Florida Trust Fund), SPB 2506 (gaming compact revenue distributions, including water projects and rural lands), SPB 2508 (29 new judgeships), SB 7014 (ending the court mediation and arbitration trust fund), SPB 2510 (K-12 conforming bill), SPB 2512 (higher education conforming bill), and SPB 2514 (health and human services conforming bill).
The committee also took up several policy bills. It approved SB 7028 on cancer research, creating grant parameters, reporting requirements, a five-year pediatric cancer research incubator, and the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute VisionGen Initiative. It approved CS/CS/SB 170 on nursing home quality, adding resident satisfaction surveys, medical director standards, safety culture reviews, electronic health record requirements, financial reporting penalties, and a study of best practices. It approved CS/CS/SB 168, the Tristan Murphy Act, which expands mental health diversion options, adds Hillsborough County to a forensic hospital diversion pilot, expands grant uses, and creates a behavioral health data repository. It also approved SB 114 creating the Florida Center for Excellence in Insurance and Risk Management at FSU and moving the public hurricane loss model there. The committee then began considering SB 180 on emergency preparedness and response, including a late-file amendment, but the transcript cuts off before final action on that bill.
CA
Transcript Highlights:
- Once Queens care received the directory data from LAUSD we used it as a reference list to identify students
- It becomes intermountable, though, with we referred to California a little while ago as a state of innovation
- I'm currently locked in litigation with West Contra Costa. than not historically that hasn't been that
- CTC to convene a workgroup at least half of which would consist of current classroom teachers with reference
- inconsistency of where people were applying for money, the different places, and this one is only referring
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- As members may have noticed, several bills have been referred to these subcommittees and they were have
- And I unfortunately I like I said, I'm a stand-in if I have to refer to Chief Wisco.
- Texas, at Sam Houston State, and they took into account five years worth of historical inspection data
- And I think historically, counties have done a great job at executing and implementing those directives
- Historically, I think ETJs were designed to facilitate the orderly integration of neighborhoods into
TX
Transcript Highlights:
- Seaton Memorial Highway, referred to the Committee on Transportation.
- Penalty, referred to the Committee on State Affairs.
- Referred to the Committee on State Affairs.
- underserved students, referred to the Committee on Public Education.
- The House has referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
AL
Alabama 2025 Regular Session
Alabama Joint Contract Review Legislative Oversight Committee Mar 6th, 2025
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- They're not and refer them if they wanted to go to the hospital or for further evaluation."
- "What I'm hearing is that they would refer to an entity that could address the medical care and even
- that they know they're not and and refer that they know they're not and and refer them<00:04:35.400
- to an entity that could address refer to an entity that could address the<00:04:51.280>
medical - So what doctor were you referring to when you said that?
Keywords:
pregnancy support, women's health, maternity homes, nonprofit organizations, grant funding, abortion, family services, tax relief fund, budget surplus, surplus revenue, tax rebate, tax refund, one-time refund, income tax, property tax, constitutional amendment, Minnesota Constitution, general fund, budget reserve, taxpayer relief
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee May 12th, 2026
Energy, Utilities and Communications
Transcript Highlights:
- So we stuck to our lane, we stuck to our knitting, and we're very efficient and have historically been
- Johnson, who is an urban planner, but is, I would refer to, ...who is an urban planner, but is, I would
- refer to, I guess, in baseball parlance, a utility player with broad subject matter expertise across
- know, a lot of people historically have not been around to answer these questions: When was the CEA
- Chan's been referring to.
Summary:
The committee held the first of several informational hearings on the SB 254 Natural Catastrophe Resiliency Study, focused on wildfire risk, utility liability, and how to finance catastrophic losses. Chair Allen opened by describing California’s recent utility-ignited wildfires, the creation of the wildfire fund under AB 1054, and SB 254’s extension of that fund and requirement for a study. The California Earthquake Authority, as wildfire fund administrator, presented the report’s process and findings, emphasizing that the study was intended to be neutral and broad, based on extensive stakeholder outreach, and that the status quo is not working well for survivors, communities, ratepayers, insurers, or utilities.
CEA’s report organized recommendations into three policy pathways: continued mitigation investment, more equitable allocation of catastrophe burdens, and expanded state roles in catastrophe financing. For utilities, the report discussed options such as setting a binding risk-tolerance standard, preserving safety certificate accountability, tying executive compensation more directly to safety, creating confidential reporting with safe-harbor protections, reforming utility liability including possible changes to inverse condemnation, limiting damages, reducing insurance subrogation, and creating a fast-pay facility for survivors. The financing analysis compared a more durable wildfire fund, risk transfer/reinsurance, liability reforms, and state-backed mechanisms such as a state insurer, a state backstop, and broader funding for community wildfire mitigation.
The CPUC said wildfire mitigation oversight has improved, but wildfire-related costs are driving electricity bills higher and creating an affordability crisis. The Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety highlighted its wildfire mitigation plan review and field inspections, and recommended stronger safety reporting and more safety-weighted executive compensation. In member discussion, senators and assemblymembers focused on the cost of the status quo, whether the burden should be shared by ratepayers, utilities, the state, or other parties, and whether California should consider broader disaster-financing approaches. Several members raised concerns about inverse condemnation, the pace of survivor compensation, local land-use responsibility, and the need for a more comprehensive statewide solution rather than piecemeal bills. No votes or formal actions were taken; the hearing was informational only.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Senate Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding Aug 8th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- One of the low-bridge water crossings that we typically know historically, if it floods, we may have
- Had it been acknowledged for what they knew historically, we may have had a different outcome. if people
- As you know, the state experienced historic flooding in Central West Texas and West Texas last month,
- Hopefully, help will come quicker than normal, but in the normal processes and the historical context
- Page 7, I believe, section 8, starting at line 5, references...
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services Mar 26th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- It's not just a plan on a shelf, but actively referred to in terms of all the work that we're doing across
- But also, more importantly, and your agenda references this, and I appreciate that, twice a year we're
- So it feels to me that we have historically not prioritized showing up for those other systems.
- So I think that there have been some historical priorities or maybe a lack of priorities that I hope
- One, historic, massively important investment.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Ways and Means (04/15/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- whether this would apply to uh, historic whether this would apply to uh, historic horse<00:26:31.520
- . uh historic horse horse racing machines. uh historic horse racing<00:26:33.679>
machines <00: - <00:26:55.679>
uh advanced money in for the historic uh advanced money in for the historic - <01:59:49.119>
races paid to tracks for the historic races paid to tracks for the historic - only in locations that have historical only in locations that have historical ties<03:40:59.680>
Summary:
The committee held a public hearing on SB 60, which would expressly authorize advanced deposit wagering for horse racing in New Hampshire and set the online tax rate at 1.25%, matching the existing rate for in-person horse betting at Seabrook and Belmont. Senator Tim Lang said the bill is intended to clarify that online horse betting is permitted, regulate the activity, and create a revenue stream while keeping the tax rate consistent with brick-and-mortar wagering. Members asked about the rate compared with other states, whether the bill was really about casino front money, and whether geofencing would apply; Lang and later witnesses said the bill is narrowly limited to parimutuel horse racing and would use geofencing to keep wagering within New Hampshire.
Peter Bragdon, speaking for Churchill Downs, supported the bill and described advanced deposit wagering as remote betting on horse races under the Interstate Horse Racing Act of 1978. He said Churchill Downs and other operators have long been active in New Hampshire, but the state’s lack of a specific statute has created a gray area. Bragdon said Churchill Downs stopped its own New Hampshire online operations in 2022 after discussions with the Lottery Commission and attorney general, while competitors continued operating, and he framed the bill as a fairness and consumer-protection measure that would clarify the law going forward. He also said the bill would not affect historic horse racing machines and would not create cannibalization of charitable gaming.
Lottery Director Charlie McIntyre said the Lottery Commission and attorney general had identified the issue as similar to the earlier fantasy sports situation, where legislation was used to regulate an activity rather than pursue enforcement. He said the commission requested the bill, would serve as the regulator, and would address violations through rulemaking and penalties. McIntyre said operators would maintain customer and transaction records, with the commission reviewing them as needed, and he noted that three operators are currently active in the state and not paying the proposed 1.25% rate. No vote was taken during the hearing.
TX
Texas 89th Regular
Culture, Recreation & Toursism May 1st, 2025 at 10:05 am
Transcript Highlights:
- The chair lays out SB 1245 by Senator Blanco as referred business.
- The chair lays out SCR 29 by Senator Blanco as referred business.
- The chair lays out SCR 43 by Senator Adam Hinojosa as referred business.
- The chair lays out SB 2009 by Senator King as referred business.
- The chair lays out SB 1718 by Senator Sparks as referred business.
Keywords:
wildlife corridors, animal-vehicle collisions, HB5259, licensing, concurrent resolutions, cultural significance, Senate Bill 1247, public safety, environmental conservation
Summary:
The meeting of the committee centered around significant legislative measures, including several bills aimed at enhancing wildlife safety through the establishment of wildlife corridors and licenses for outdoor activities. Key discussions highlighted House Bill 5259, led by Vice Chair Flores, which proposes a wildlife corridor action plan to reduce animal-vehicle collisions in Texas. This bill is crucial given Texas's alarming rate of wildlife-vehicle accidents, and testimonies from supporting members emphasized the need for action to protect both wildlife and public safety. Furthermore, Senate Bill 1247 was brought forward, simplifying the non-resident hunting license system to improve compliance and conservation funding. The committee also addressed multiple concurrent resolutions recognizing towns for their cultural significance, reflecting a broader commitment to community identity and heritage.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee 2/19/26
Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy
Transcript Highlights:
- The guidance<00:42:34.720>
further <00:42:35.119>references <00:42:35.599>the <00 - :42:35.839>
example guidance further references the example guidance further references the example - Um, the answer of historic testing of sites with historic land application is no.
- <01:13:44.640>
of the the answer of of uh historic of the the answer of of uh historic of - <01:13:46.560>
land testing of his sites with historic land testing of his sites with historic
AZ
Transcript Highlights:
- Reference to printed bill.
- Reference to printed bill.
- They want it to remain as this historic road. So Don't want it paved.
- There is a Hoffman floor amendment in reference to the Judiciary amendment.
- There is a Hoffman floor amendment in reference to the Judiciary amendment.
Summary:
The Senate met in Committee of the Whole on several calendars, with opening prayer, pledge, attendance, guest introductions, and recognition of doctors of the day and student visitors. The chamber also approved the prior day’s journal and later adopted multiple Committee of the Whole reports assigning bills for further action. Several measures were retained on the calendar, including SB 1366, SB 1503, SB 1787, SB 1803, and SB 1628.
On the first calendars, the Senate advanced SB 1232 on military compatibility permit zoning, SB 1493 on disciplinary action appeals for law enforcement officers, SB 1538 on civil traffic violations and warrant-related penalties, and SB 1618 on the military affairs commission, all with amendments. The chamber also advanced SB 1424 on firearm safety instruction in public schools, SB 1456 on state highways and routes, SB 1552 on a tax revision, SB 1554 on chiropractic claims, SB 1572 on civics instruction, SB 1633 on an income tax subtraction for a primary residence, SB 1684 on school liability for serious injury, and SCR 1004 on photo enforcement systems. SCR 1004 drew comments that the amended version would require photo radar to be put to voters in affected cities or towns in the 2028 election cycle.
A substantial portion of the meeting focused on SB 1094, which would create civil liability for physicians performing irreversible gender-reassignment surgery on minors. Supporters argued it would protect minors and hold doctors accountable, while opponents said it would discriminate against transgender youth, increase malpractice costs, chill medical care, and reduce provider availability. The Senate also debated SB 1124 on psychiatric evaluations ordered by boards, SB 1496 on Department of Child Safety procedures and representative payees, and SB 1713 on AHCCCS procurement contracting, with concerns raised about access, delays, and agency discretion. SB 1813, dealing with the state hospital governing board and Maricopa County bed limits, prompted debate over litigation risk versus expanding capacity for people with serious mental illness.
In later calendars, the Senate advanced SB 1246 on homeowners associations and foreclosure, SB 1271 on municipal authority and alarm-system reporting, SB 1338 on state and local public benefits eligibility, SB 1428 on county board membership, SB 1663 on freedom of speech and the Freedom of Speech Monument Committee, SB 1688 on membership association fees and disclosures, SB 1805 on county recorder/court claim deeds and notaries, SCR 1024 on legislative qualifications and residency requirements, and SB 1808 on homeowners associations and county flags. SB 1338 drew opposition from Sen. Kuby, who said it would remove refugees, DACA recipients, and asylum seekers from eligibility for state and local benefits. SCR 1024 was amended to require one year of party affiliation in addition to district residency, and the sponsor explained it was intended to align party and district requirements. Most measures were adopted from Committee of the Whole with do-pass recommendations, many as amended.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- communications was received and referred communications was received and referred as<00:04:42.280
- Now moving to the referred as indicated.
- motion to re-refer is adopted. motion to re-refer is adopted.
- <00:12:23.240>
to Capital Investment and re-referred to Capital Investment and re-referred - And yet, historical. It is consistent.
Summary:
The Senate convened under call, established a quorum, and received routine executive communications and House messages, including the House’s passage of Senate File 3623 on school bus stopping requirements and transmittal of House Files 3241, 3731, 3741, and 3802. The chamber also adopted committee reports and gave second readings to several Senate files and House File 3379, while referring Senate File 4854 to the Capital Investments Committee and Senate Resolution 68 to Rules and Administration.
The main floor action involved a series of motions to re-refer bills to different committees. The Senate adopted motions to move Senate File 1671 from Judiciary and Public Safety to Housing and Homelessness Prevention, Senate File 2373 from Finance to Labor, Senate File 4452 from Capital Investment to Human Services, Senate File 4580 from Human Services to State and Local Government, Senate File 4589 from Judiciary and Public Safety to Higher Education, Senate File 4630 from Education Policy to Education Finance, and Senate File 4662 from Capital Investment to State and Local Government. The chamber also adopted a motion to give House File 3378 a second reading and place it on general orders after a roll call vote of 46-21.
The Senate then took up Senate Resolution 69, which would amend the temporary rules to allow certain accommodations for members who are new parents. Senators Murphy and Coleman spoke in support, arguing the rules should better reflect modern family life and make the chamber more welcoming to parents, especially mothers. Senator Nelson offered the A4 amendment to allow caucus leaders to permit a member’s child under age one on the floor, with the member responsible for supervision and the child exempt from Rule 17.6. Opponents, including Senator Boldon, argued the age limit was too restrictive and that parents should have more flexibility. After roll call, the Nelson A4 amendment failed 32-35, and the resolution remained pending with additional amendments possible.
US
US Federal 2025-2026 Regular Session
US House Floor Proceedings (Thursday, June 5, 2025)
US Federal House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- forces who took part in that historic forces who took part in that historic operation. operation
- Historically 81 years ago, Mr. Speaker.
- >
on <02:18:50.719>Oversight Referred to the Committee on Oversight Referred to the Committee - The Thunder's historic season, Williams.
- <08:11:28.160>
You Quinton Tarantino, uh reference. You Quinton Tarantino, uh reference.
MD
Transcript Highlights:
- number 44, February 19th, 2026, referred number 44, February 19th, 2026, referred to<00:02:52.800
- 19th, 2026, referred to appropriations. 19th, 2026, referred to appropriations.
- So, I would refer you to the first line of the clause that you're referring to: to the extent practical
- National monuments, exhibits, historical markers are being altered.
- c> National monuments, exhibits, historical National monuments, exhibits, historical mark<01:21:07.840
Summary:
The House convened with 124 members present, offered prayer, approved the previous day’s journal by consent, and then moved through introductory matters and a ceremonial resolution recognizing Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated for its 113 years of sisterhood, scholarship, service, and social action in Maryland. Members welcomed visiting sorors and applauded the recognition. The chamber later confirmed 131 members present and proceeded to third reading bills.
Several bills were passed without opposition, including House Bill 7, authorizing limited music therapy licenses; House Bill 42, revising the State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners; House Bill 164, on yard waste collection and disposal; and House Bill 177, on bicycles, play vehicles, and unicycles at crosswalks. House Bill 55, which would expand speed camera authority to local jurisdictions statewide for certain roads and areas, drew the most debate. Supporters argued it would give counties and municipalities local control to address speeding and safety concerns, while opponents raised concerns about local autonomy, revenue use, and whether camera fines supplement or supplant public safety funding. The floor leader clarified that the bill would extend authority now limited to three counties, that existing notice and public hearing requirements would remain, and that revenues must still be used for administrative costs and public safety.
During debate on House Bill 55, members asked about the speed threshold, fine structure, whether citations go to vehicle owners, and whether the bill would change how local governments use camera revenues. The floor leader said the bill itself does not alter the existing rule that revenues after administrative costs must go to public safety, and that local jurisdictions could still further restrict use of funds. After debate, House Bill 55 passed 98-35. House Bill 164 passed 96-38, while House Bill 7 passed 133-0 and House Bill 42 passed 132-0.
MN
Transcript Highlights:
- Now I'm going to walk through each one of those internal control activities and make a reference to a
- Now I'm going to walk through each one of those internal control activities and make a reference to a
- We refer to it in shorthand as the CESSAT, so I will be talking about the CESSAT this morning.
- We refer to it in shorthand as the CESSAT, so I will be talking about the CESSAT this morning.
- We refer to it in shorthand as the CESSAT, so I will be talking about the CESSAT this morning.
Summary:
The Senate Finance Committee met on January 9, 2025, to focus on internal controls, fraud prevention, and legislative oversight of state agencies. Legislative Auditor Judy Randall explained Minnesota’s internal control framework, based on the GAO Green Book, and described five core controls: assigning responsibility, separating duties, restricting access, maintaining policies and procedures, and keeping records. She tied each control to examples from recent audits, including DHS’s Medicaid provider debt recovery, the Minnesota State Academies’ travel reimbursement issue, privileged access at the Minnesota State Lottery, missing mileage-verification procedures at the Board of Firefighter Training and Education, and weak documentation in the Board on Aging’s senior nutrition program.
Deputy Legislative Auditor Jod Mson Rodriguez then presented a new follow-up report on implementation of prior recommendations from 2022 through 2024, including special reviews. She said the office gathers agency documentation, evaluates progress, and categorizes recommendations from implemented to not applicable, while noting that some items require more work to verify and that this reflects OLA capacity rather than agency performance. Examples included the Department of Commerce, where some policy changes were verified but further work would be needed to confirm consistent investigator compliance, and the Metropolitan Council, where more data analysis would be needed to determine whether bonus payments were properly earned. She also noted that a legislature-directed recommendation to require grant manager training had not been implemented.
Overall, OLA reported that state agencies had implemented or partially implemented close to 70% of its recommendations, while the legislature had implemented or partially implemented about 40% of recommendations from the last three years. Members generally praised the office’s work and discussed how agencies respond after reports are issued. Senator Westrom raised concerns about a recent media report on alleged fraud in CCAP, and Randall said OLA was aware of the issue but could not discuss details. Senator Draheim asked about post-report agency engagement, and Randall and Rodriguez said follow-up varies, with some agencies seeking private meetings and others engaging less, but that the follow-up process often prompts further discussion and improvement.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal with Calendar) Jun 21st, 2026 at 11:00 am
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- Report of the committee: The Committee on Rules, acting concurrently, to whom was referred the petition
- The matter will be referred to the Committee on Public Service, subject to the call.
- All right, so we just suspended, we just handled that, referred that item to the Committee on Public
- Several petitions come from the House under the suspension of Joint Rule 12, referred to their respective
- Those matters will be referred to their respective committees.
Summary:
The Senate first adopted three congratulatory resolutions recognizing the retirements of Dolores Hayes, Lisa Audet, and Kate Fitzpatrick. It then handled several procedural matters, including suspending Joint Rule 12 to refer a sick leave bank bill for a Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office employee to the Committee on Public Service and referring House petitions to their respective committees. The chamber also adopted a conference report on the joint rules for the 2025-2026 session after remarks from Senators Creem, Tarr, Lovely, and Fattman emphasizing transparency, public access, recorded votes, longer notice for hearings and conference reports, remote participation, and periodic review of the rules. The report was accepted by a 40-0 roll call.
The Senate then took up the bill strengthening health care protections in the Commonwealth, Senate No. 2538, commonly described as Shield Act 2.0. Senator Friedman and others argued the bill was needed to protect reproductive and gender-affirming care from out-of-state and federal interference, to limit disclosure of sensitive information, to create a state-level EMTALA-style protection for emergency care and active labor, and to strengthen privacy and licensing protections for providers and institutions. Senators Cyr, Lovely, and Fattman also spoke in support, framing the bill as a response to recent federal and state threats and as an extension of Massachusetts’ prior shield-law work.
The chamber considered numerous amendments. Several were rejected, including amendments by Senators Finegold and Keenan and multiple Tarr amendments on topics such as medical records, consistency with existing law, and public health data collection. Some amendments were adopted, including a Montigny amendment on health-connected data disclosure, a Brownsberger amendment further protecting privacy for reproductive and gender-affirming care, a Rauch amendment clarifying protections for patients in active labor, a Tarr amendment removing an exemption for data from personal tracking devices, and a Rodrigues corrective amendment. After the amendments, the Ways and Means substitute was adopted, the bill was ordered to a third reading, and it then passed to be engrossed by a 37-3 roll call.
At the end of the session, the Senate adopted a memorial adjournment in honor of former Senate Majority Leader Louis P. Bertinazi. The Governor also filed a message submitting a bill to build resilience for Massachusetts communities, authorizing future capital spending for energy and environmental affairs, which was referred to the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. The Senate then adopted an order to meet again the following Monday at 1 p.m. and adjourned.