Transcript Highlights:

• Comptroller General of the United States.
• It's the United States trade. I just want to be real brief.
• It's the United States Treasury of the United States of America and Washington, D.C., at 1,500 Pennsylvania
• It's the United States Treasury of the United States of America and Washington, D.C. at 1,500 Pennsylvania
• So I'd like to dwell on that for a moment.

Summary: The committee met to review its interim schedule and then focused on a referral regarding political subdivision compliance with state law, especially levy limitations and reserve levels. State Auditor Josh Gallion explained the audit process, the Yellow Book standards, and key statutes governing political subdivisions, including the 75% cash reserve cap and mill levy limits. He said the auditor’s office has limited authority to force compliance, has only stepped in a couple of times to resume audits for fiscal irregularities, and is constrained by staffing shortages and a backlog of local government audits. Gallion used Stark County and Mountrail County as examples to show how reserve calculations affect levy decisions. He said Stark County’s 2023 general fund levy calculation should have been zero under the statute, but the county still levied mills, while Mountrail County had recently reduced or eliminated some county levies after building large reserves. Stark County Commission Chair Neil Messer responded that the county chose not to move excess funds into a capital projects fund because it wanted flexibility for future projects and emergencies, and said the county has since reduced its levy and committed reserves to major projects such as road work, a regional airport, and public safety facilities. Committee members questioned whether penalties should apply to auditors or elected officials and whether the statutes should be updated to reflect current revenue conditions. Association of Counties director Linda Svihovec and League of Cities director Matt Gardner both said they have been heavily training local officials on the new 3% property tax cap and reserve rules. Svihovec said the association has held dozens of training sessions and that the standard worksheets used statewide are designed to help counties comply; she suggested that a possible enforcement tool could be requiring an affidavit from taxing districts certifying compliance with the cap. Gardner said city auditors receive required training through the League of Cities and that he was unaware of any cities currently out of compliance. The committee took no formal action and indicated it would continue the discussion at its September 29 meeting, with members asked to review the legislative council memo on possible enforcement mechanisms and statutory changes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Junior League of Annapolis, Inc., is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women's
• Congratulations to the Junior League of Annapolis on their advocacy day and for their continued leadership
• </c><00:20:35.040><c> The</c><00:20:35.160><c> Junior</c><00:20:35.600><c> League</c> have in the gallery
• The Junior League have in the gallery.
• The Junior League of<00:20:35.960><c> Annapolis</c><00:20:36.600><c> Inc.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a resolution to honor the Junior League of Texarkana on their 100th anniversary, and as a little
• fun fact, we were the second Junior League in the state of Arkansas, right after Little Rock.
• And as a little fun fact, we were the second Junior League in the state of Arkansas, right after Little

Committee: All HOUSE MANAGEMENT

Summary: House Management considered a series of House resolutions and memorial resolutions honoring individuals, teams, and organizations. Measures included recognition of Justin Tate and the Elkins football team, memorial resolutions for Senator Gary Stubblefield and Representative Stanberry, Skin Cancer Awareness Month, the Razorbacks’ national wheelchair basketball championship, the High Hall boys basketball state championship, Mansfield High School’s volleyball and football championships, Rogers student achievements, the Piggott Patriots basketball championship, support for poultry producers affected by an Illinois River watershed lawsuit, the Junior League of Texarkana’s 100th anniversary, and Arkansas Line Workers Appreciation Day. The committee also heard an explanation that noncontroversial items generally go to the consent calendar, while memorials and potentially controversial items go to the red calendar. Most resolutions were briefly presented by their sponsors, with no questions from the committee, and were approved by voice vote. The committee also received guidance from the parliamentarian on the consent calendar process and how presentations are livestreamed and archived for public viewing. Representative Steele’s memorial resolution for Bishop Kenneth L. Robinson was described as a bipartisan, multi-district tribute reflecting his statewide ministry and community impact; it was also approved and placed on the red calendar. At the end of the meeting, members were reminded that the schedule could change, with possible meetings on Thursday and Monday the following week. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a resolution to honor the Junior League of Texarkana on their 100th anniversary, and as a little
• fun fact, we were the second Junior League in the state of Arkansas right after Little Rock.
• And as a little fun fact, we were the second Junior League in the state of Arkansas right after Little

Committee: All HOUSE MANAGEMENT

Transcript Highlights:

• The last I heard, it's over 20 million pet birds in the United States, and just a guesstimate is one
• I don't know, like four to six million pet chickens in the United States. Thank you very much.
• Importation of wild-caught parrots into the United States has been illegal at the federal level.
• We do hope it stays out of the United States, and we're Yes, poaching does happen.
• We do hope it stays out of the United States, and we're only too happy to provide babies that can fill

Bills: H5432 , H5433 , S3093 , H5363 , H5137 , H5247

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a hybrid hearing on late-file bills, with testimony focused first on multiple home rule petitions seeking local authority to restrict anticoagulant rodenticides in towns including Andover, Topsfield, North Andover, Williamstown, Georgetown, Lexington, and others. Municipal officials, residents, wildlife advocates, and conservation groups described documented harm to hawks, owls, foxes, turtles, pets, and other wildlife, and argued that towns should be able to regulate these poisons locally. Several speakers said their towns had already voted to support restrictions and were using integrated pest management and other alternatives. Committee members noted that statewide rodenticide legislation had already advanced out of committee in both chambers and that the environmental bond bill was in conference committee, but no votes were taken during the hearing itself. The committee then heard testimony on H. 5137, a bill to prohibit the retail sale of parrots. Supporters, including animal welfare groups, veterinarians, rescue operators, and advocates, said parrots are often sourced from large breeding facilities with poor conditions, that many birds are surrendered because they are difficult long-term pets, and that rescues are overwhelmed. They argued the bill would encourage adoption, reduce demand for commercial breeding and trafficking, and improve bird welfare and public health. Opponents, including breeders, pet retailers, aviculture representatives, and rescue operators, said the bill would harm small businesses, reduce consumer access and transparency, and push sales to unregulated markets without improving welfare. Several speakers said the bill should instead focus on stronger standards and enforcement rather than banning sales. A separate bill, S. 310, designating the Marion Stoddard River Walk, was also briefly discussed in testimony supporting Marion Stoddard’s environmental work. The hearing ended after the committee finished taking testimony and adjourned; no roll-call votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have 20,000 local jurisdictions that issue permits across the United States.
• We have 20,000 local jurisdictions that issue permits across the United States.
• I don't understand the case for a unit if the occupant is not expending any money.
• refund and refundability must go not... ...in refundability must go not to the occupant of a multi-unit
• dwelling, because the refund presumably would go somewhere else, because, as I say, the individual has

Committee: Senate Senate Committee on Climate Change and Global Warming

Summary: The hearing focused on ways Massachusetts can accelerate solar deployment, lower costs, and preserve reliability as electricity demand rises and federal support for solar and other renewables changes. Chair Creem opened by emphasizing solar’s role in meeting climate mandates and peak demand, citing June heat-wave data showing behind-the-meter solar reduced wholesale prices and saved ratepayers money. Commissioner Elizabeth Mahoney of DOER said Massachusetts has grown from 3 MW of solar in 2008 to 3.5 GW today, highlighted SMART 3.0 as a flexible, evergreen incentive program, and said DOER is working on updated rates, interconnection reforms, flexible interconnection, net crediting, and a petition to the DPU to speed implementation. She also said Massachusetts joined the lawsuit over canceled federal Solar for All funding. Committee members and witnesses discussed several policy changes to speed projects before federal tax credits expire, including automated permitting, remote inspections, faster interconnection, and changes to caps on municipal and regional solar development. Senator Barrett pressed Mahoney on whether the 10 MW municipal cap and regional caps should be lifted, and on whether the state should increase its solar tax credit to offset the loss of the federal residential credit. Mahoney said the municipal cap should be revisited and that interconnection cost allocation and other market issues need to be worked out before lifting broader caps. She also said DOER is open to automated permitting and is already developing a permitting portal under the 2024 climate law. Industry and advocacy witnesses largely supported streamlining measures. Sunrun’s Bronte Payne urged removal of a proposed requirement that all net-metered facilities enroll in SMART, and recommended automated permitting, remote inspections, flexible interconnection, better hosting-capacity information, consumer protections, and continued support for Connected Solutions and virtual power plants. Permit Power’s Hannah Bernbaum and Solar App’s Matthew McAllister argued that smart permitting and remote inspections can significantly reduce soft costs and delays, with McAllister saying Solar App now operates in over 320 jurisdictions and saves about three weeks on average. They said remote inspections are already common and can be done safely with photos, video, and qualified third parties. Community solar and clean energy advocates, including CCSA’s Kate Daniel and Vote Solar’s Lindsay Griffin, supported a 10 GW solar target by 2035, a higher refundable state tax credit for low-income households, interconnection reforms, flexible interconnection, and preserving the option to build outside SMART so projects can retain renewable energy certificates. No votes were taken; the hearing was informational, and members requested follow-up materials and draft language from witnesses.

Transcript Highlights:

• I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands
• As you know, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.
• Sonoma County and Lake County actually is the only place in the United States that can currently deliver
• Alcohol abuse is the fourth leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, and two out of
• To say that the United States is in a mental health crisis is an understatement, but for black youth,

Transcript Highlights:

• Joshua is technically a junior at Veritas, but he is on the Springfield Tech Community College campus
• Hello, my name is Grace, and I'm a high school junior in Brockton.
• I recently saw this during our junior council elections in Brockton High.
• Our eighth grade weather unit, for example, centers around 70 student-built full-scale sail cars.
• This is why United Way of Mass.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Education

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education heard testimony on several bills centered on school accountability, receivership, graduation requirements, charter school access, community schools, school libraries, and student voting rights. Much of the discussion focused on the Thrive Act, S. 374, which would end state receivership and change the state’s accountability approach. Supporters, including educators, parents, advocacy groups, and students, argued that receivership has not improved outcomes in districts such as Lawrence, Holyoke, Southbridge, Boston, and the Dever, and that local communities should have more control, with greater emphasis on community schools, wraparound services, and broader measures of school quality. They also supported related bills on community schools and school library standards, and several witnesses backed a bill to expand student representative voting rights on school committees. Opponents of S. 374, especially charter school leaders, parents, students, and some education advocates, focused on Section 4 of the bill, which would change the charter school net school spending cap in the lowest-performing districts. They argued that the provision would reduce access to charter seats in communities where families are seeking more options, and that schools such as Roxbury Prep, Excel Academy, Brook, Veritas Prep, and Libertas Academy have produced strong results for students, including students of color, low-income students, and students with special needs. Several witnesses said the section would force schools to shrink or close and would remove opportunities for families in districts with long waitlists. Committee members questioned witnesses on both the effectiveness of receivership and the charter school cap language. Chair Lewis and Chair Gordon emphasized the need for a better accountability system and noted concerns about whether current measures, including MCAS-based designations, accurately reflect school quality. Some witnesses said they had discussed the possibility of removing Section 4 from the Thrive Act and suggested it might be addressed in separate charter reform legislation. No votes were taken during the hearing; testimony was received and the committee later closed testimony on S. 374 and several related bills before moving on to the student voting rights bill, S. 367.

Transcript Highlights:

• Scott was assistant special agent in charge for the United States Secret Service in the Dallas, North
• Cyber Fraud Task Force, assistant to the special agent in charge for the Protective Intelligence. unit
• After attending Blinn Junior College, I entered. the workforce, gained experience, and later returned
• the human trafficking the drug trafficking fentanyl enough fentanyl to kill the everybody in the United
• Army, I joined the United States Secret Service, where I retired as a this special agent in charge of

Committee: Senate Nominations

Transcript Highlights:

• And if they do want to let the renter install these units.
• Many units cannot support it electrically.
• Air conditioning units were not allowed.
• There is simply not enough affordable housing units in our communities.
• unit.

Summary: The committee heard public hearing testimony on House Bill 2265, which would expand tenant protections during extreme heat. Staff explained that the bill would bar landlords from restricting portable cooling devices, require written notice of tenant rights and landlord immunity for tenant-installed devices, add a cooling duty under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, and prohibit sheriffs from physically evicting tenants during defined extreme heat periods. Representative Mena said the bill responds to the 2021 heat dome and is intended to address a gap in housing law, while committee members and the sponsor discussed unresolved questions about what “reasonably required” cooling means, how the eviction pause would work, and whether the bill could raise rents or create liability and operational burdens for landlords. Supporters, including climate, public health, tenant, and clean energy advocates, said extreme heat is a growing health threat and that renters need a right to cooling; opponents from multifamily housing, property management, and rental housing groups argued the bill is too vague, could effectively mandate costly cooling upgrades, create safety and insurance issues, and complicate eviction enforcement. The hearing also included testimony from landlords and housing providers who said the bill should be narrowed or amended, and from tenants and advocates who said it does not go far enough because it mostly permits tenant-installed cooling rather than requiring landlords to provide it. The committee then heard House Bill 1974, a proposed substitute authorizing land banks. Staff described the bill as allowing public corporations, housing authorities, and nonprofit corporations to acquire, hold, improve, lease, transfer, or dispose of property for affordable housing, with 30-year affordability requirements, annual reporting, tax exemptions, and priority transfer of certain tax-foreclosed properties. Vice Chair Hill said the bill was scaled back from earlier versions and is meant to create a flexible tool for turning difficult parcels into housing-ready land aligned with local housing plans. Testifiers from the Spokane Regional Land Bank, housing authorities, developers, youth shelter providers, and housing advocates supported the bill as a way to lower land costs, clear title issues, reduce displacement, and create a pipeline of permanently affordable housing. A counties representative also supported the concept but said they would like the grant program restored. One committee member raised a question about whether the tax-foreclosed property language could bypass the normal surplus distribution process, and staff said the provision is placed in the chapter governing properties that have already gone through foreclosure and auction, though the wording may need further review. Finally, the committee opened House Bill 2452, which would change how rent increase notices are served. Staff said the bill would remove the current requirement that rent increase notices be served like unlawful detainer notices and instead allow service by personal delivery, mail, or posting on the dwelling unit, with service by mail complete when deposited in the mail; the manufactured home version would follow the general notice rules under that act. Representative Connors said the bill responds to problems created when prior legislation required certified mail, which she said has led to tenants not receiving notices and housing providers facing higher costs and administrative burdens. Housing provider and industry witnesses supported the bill, saying certified mail is expensive, inefficient, and often not actually received, while tenant advocates opposed it, arguing that mail-only service weakens notice protections and can cause missed rent increases and displacement; they urged the committee to preserve stronger in-person or posting requirements. Some witnesses also suggested broader changes, including electronic notice, while others said the bill should be expanded to fix certified mail requirements for more than just rent increase notices.

Transcript Highlights:

• So there are units on science topics, units on social studies topics.
• I am working with an 18-year-old who just completed his junior year in high school, who is a non-reader
• Thank you for stepping up and helping this 18 year old that's now a junior in high school, but why wasn't

Transcript Highlights:

• So total price transparency ensures that a unit Total price transparency ensures that a unit advertised
• I mean, it exists just to hold that unit off the market.
• So now I'm sitting down with a vacant unit.
• In other words, so I apply for... ...so I apply for, you know, unit 103 and you also have unit 107, which
• Thank you. ...same unit.

Transcript Highlights:

• The JET Grant program has been a valuable tool in helping public junior colleges, technical institutes
• The JET Grant program has been a valuable tool in helping public junior colleges, technical institutes
• preparing students to meet today's workforce expectations, but I valuable tool in helping public junior
• district to have that opportunity, they need things like this because the cost is so high, and the junior

Bills: HB322 , HB331 , HB673 , HB 1147 , HB 1154 , HB2488

Committee: House S/C on Workforce

Keywords: JET Grant Program, career education, technical education, community colleges, technology solutions, high demand jobs, first responders, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, benefits, compensation, presumption of disability, emergency services, healthcare, Medicaid, mental health, substance abuse, treatment access, cost, insurance coverage

Transcript Highlights:

• operates two area career centers, North Tech and South Tech, which serve about 1,700 high school juniors
• When he was a junior in high school, I did find a program—now programs—that did help him.
• When he was a junior in high school, I did find a program—now programs—that did help him.
• be, like, a lot of confidence in that military, or let's say if people could just secede from the United
• States of America, I probably would not, you know, be, would not respect the United States as much,

Committee: House General Laws

Summary: The committee first met in executive session on House Bill 3070, a firearms-related bill. Representative Koslow argued the bill was not truly Second Amendment friendly, saying it could block return of stolen firearms, expose taxpayers to large payouts, and harm firearm dealers. Representative Greg said local law enforcement did not support it. The committee then voted 3 ayes and 9 noes, and HB 3070 failed to be reported do pass. The committee then held a public hearing on House Bill 2904, which would expand animal mistreatment law to include starvation and add a House committee substitute addressing false reports of animal abuse. Representative Don Mayhew said the bill responds to cases of animals left chained and neglected, and supporters from the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Humane World for Animals, and the Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation backed the measure. No opposition testimony was offered. The bulk of the meeting focused on House Bill 2933, which would allow school districts in St. Louis County to withdraw from the Special School District of St. Louis County through board action and a local vote. The sponsor and supporters, including Lindbergh officials, parents, and an attorney, said the current SSD structure is too rigid, lacks accountability, and can fail to meet students’ individualized needs; they cited service delays, litigation, and concerns raised by families. Opponents, including SSD administrators, superintendents, parents, and advocates, said SSD provides specialized services that many districts could not replicate, warned the bill could fragment services and create instability, and pointed to the countywide history and existing review mechanisms for SSD. The hearing ended without a vote on HB 2933.

Transcript Highlights:

• I worked in the onion shed whenever I was in junior high.
• that have already happened, which is a computer glitch that shut down processing plants all over the United
• The facilities unit; others were in maintenance, and so on. Mr.
• had a list of projects and priorities with how much money they were missing, and how many housing units
• I mean, this happened with junior money in Senator Baca. where there was an error in drafting for junior

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Yeah, just to continue, not to dwell on anything here, but I just want to make sure that we're understanding
• Nope. >> Well, the counties are here by... >> Yeah, just to continue, not to dwell on anything here,

Bills: SF0024

Committee: Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• Then we have Solar United Neighbors in support. Hawaii Solar Energy Association in support.
• Then we have Solar United Neighbors in support. Hawaii Solar Energy Association in support.
• Then we have solar united &gt;&gt; All right.
• Then we have solar united neighbors<00:27:50.720><c> in</c><00:27:51.039><c> support.
• </c><02:14:21.360><c> or</c> I guess original or initial dwelling or I guess original or initial dwelling

Bills: HB2284

Committee: House Energy & Environmental Protection

Summary: The hearing covered House Bill 2284, which would create the Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program in the Department of Human Services to help qualifying households pay energy bills and direct the Public Utilities Commission’s public benefits fee administrator to provide information and assistance to recipients. Testimony from the Division of Consumer Advocacy, DHS, and the Public Utilities Commission was in support. A committee member asked about how the program would interact with existing TANF-related energy assistance and whether rules could be adjusted to avoid duplicative benefits; DHS said logistics would need to be worked out and that the agencies would make the rules. The committees noted the bill’s $1.5 million appropriation and moved it forward with amendments, including blanking out amounts and noting them in the committee report. Both committees voted to pass HB 2284 with amendments, with the recommendation adopted. The committee then heard House Bill 2486, relating to plug-in or balcony solar. DCCA, the Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission, and the Public Utilities Commission stood on prior testimony in support of the bill’s intent. Multiple advocates and organizations, including Carbon Cashback Hawaii, 350 Hawaii, Bright Saver, Sierra Club of Hawaii, and others, testified in support, arguing that plug-in solar would lower electricity bills, expand access for renters and condo residents, and reduce emissions. Several speakers urged the committee to remove or avoid registration, reporting, feed-in tariff, interconnection fee, and other requirements they said would create barriers. Bright Saver testified that the systems are safe and would not back-feed during outages. No vote was taken on HB 2486 during the excerpt. Finally, the committee heard House Bill 1568, which would prohibit the importation or storage of LNG in the state and the construction of related infrastructure. State agencies including the Consumer Advocate, Hawaii State Energy Office, Public Utilities Commission, and Hawaiian Electric opposed the bill, with the Energy Office arguing LNG would perpetuate oil use on Oahu and expose the state to price volatility. Supporters included Life of the Land, Sierra Club of Hawaii, Greenpeace Hawaii, 350 Hawaii, Earthjustice, Our Hawaii, and others, who argued LNG would lock Hawaii into another fossil fuel dependency, create major infrastructure costs and safety risks, and undermine the state’s renewable energy goals. Several testifiers cited climate and affordability concerns and urged the committee to reject LNG. The excerpt ends during testimony on HB 1568, before any committee action or vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• changes As an example, using the 2 million records from the USDA ARS Pollinating Insects Research Unit
• One example of a microgrid in the works right now in the United States is Green Mountain Power.
• Over the last 20 years the United States has lost 11 million acres of farmland to development.
• Various entities, federal land management agencies, local units of government, conservation districts
• I was also a delegate to the United, Nations on March 2nd to the 6th of 2025 for the nuclear ban.

Committee: House Water & Natural Resources Committee

Transcript Highlights:

• I looked down like Carey Junior High down there. The rooms are all way too big.
• Chairman, up in Senator Driskill's area, they're at 30-something percent in that junior high school.
• </c><00:18:34.600><c> The</c> like Carey Junior High down there.
• The like Carey Junior High down there.
• in that in that junior high high school. school. school.

Bills: HB0034 , HB0035 , HB0036 , HB0106

Committee: Senate Appropriations

Transcript Highlights:

• school students the last few years, making sure that those individuals that want to come through their junior
• We failed those students because we're not reaching them in junior high there was a time when every kid
• that came through junior high knew what a Phillips screwdriver was.
• I'm voting on this increase, which is really pretty small, but I may not get any benefit from my junior
• And for good reason, because There is no barrier as far as cost at all for a junior or senior.

Committee: House A&B Education Subcommittee