Transcript Highlights:

• Then the message is clear: violence against women is less bad compared to violence against other people
• And I also rise with a broader message.
• As a large fat person, the message I receive in public spaces is clear: You don't fit.
• I don't know if that message has reached you all. Mickey Jones? Mickey Jones. Is Mickey Jones on?
• And then just going back to Jessica, we had text. Jessica Van Meier. Hello, can you hear me? Yes.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy public hearing on a wide range of civil rights, immigration, hate crimes, and reparations bills. Chair Edwards and Chair Day opened with strict testimony rules, including two-minute limits, written testimony options, and decorum requirements. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell testified in strong support of S. 1126/H. 1920, the Combating Hate in the Commonwealth bill, saying Massachusetts needs stronger tools to address rising hate and bias incidents. Her Civil Rights Division chief explained that the bill would give the division civil investigative demand/subpoena power, expand civil rights enforcement, close loopholes in the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, add protected classes to the hate crimes law, and require better hate-crime data reporting. The committee also heard support for H. 1954 on access to counsel in immigration proceedings, H. 4684 on law enforcement identification and public trust, and H. 1927 to exonerate individuals accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts. Several bills focused on discrimination and civil rights enforcement. Supporters of S. 1248 on organizational standing said fair housing nonprofits need explicit authority to bring discrimination complaints in their own names, especially as federal protections are under attack. On H. 1246, advocates urged adding sex and gender as protected classes in the hate crimes statute, arguing women are not protected under current state law. H. 1820 drew testimony for protections against height and weight discrimination. H. 1995 would regularize sentencing for hate crimes by requiring diversity awareness training for both convictions and continuances without a finding, and H. 1056/H. 1589 would broaden hate-crime victim standing and require restitution to be used to repair harm. H. 1886 would clarify that defense-based social service staff are exempt from mandated reporter obligations when working under attorney-client privilege. The committee also heard testimony on H. 1889/S. 1064, a bill to eliminate disparate impact. Environmental justice advocates, fair housing attorneys, and community members argued that neutral policies can still produce discriminatory outcomes and that Massachusetts should allow state-court claims and a private right of action to address them. Committee members raised concerns about litigation floodgates, punitive damages, and the scope of protected classes, while supporters said the bill would mainly target systemic harms and injunctive relief. Additional testimony supported H. 1922/S. 119, the Fair Investment Act, which would create civil rights protections in venture capital and other investment settings for founders and investors, especially women and minority entrepreneurs. The hearing also included testimony on H. 1683, the Sex Trade Survivor Act, which would expand vacatur and expungement relief for trafficking survivors, remove archaic offenses from the code, and create an interagency commission; supporters emphasized reducing barriers to housing, employment, and reentry. Finally, the committee heard extensive support for H. 1753/S. 1181, establishing a commission to study reparations in Massachusetts. Testifiers described the state’s history of slavery, redlining, and ongoing racial disparities, and urged the committee to report the bill favorably. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Furthermore, we are doing... messaging messaging to ensure that individuals know that there's a measles
• That initial education will include billboards and social media messaging and that has started this week
• So we are gonna continue to do what we're doing, including. messaging, but we are actively trying to
• I literally have been texting my son and my daughter-in-law saying, hey, she's been vaccinated.
• So we do vaccine messaging saying like if you want to get vaccinated...

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Without objection, the following messages from the Senate, as listed on the calendar, will not be read
• Without objection, the following messages from the Senate as listed on the calendar will not be read
• Without objection, following messages from the Senate, as listed on the calendar, will not be read.
• Messages from the Senate are another order of business.
• Messages from the Senate are another order of business.

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:

• Without objection, the following messages from the Senate, as listed on the calendar, will not be read
• The following messages from the Senate, as listed on the calendar, will not be read, and will be entered
• Without objection, the following messages from the Senate as listed on the calendar will not be read
• Without objection, the following messages from the Senate as listed on the calendar will not be read
• Without objection, following messages from the Senate, as listed on the calendar, will not be read.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• amendment would be submitted to the voters, and the language of the ballot question is included in the text
• So, yeah, and that's kind of already covered in the text of what the bill does.
• amendment would be submitted to the voters, and the language of the ballot question is included in the text
• So, yeah, and that's kind of already covered in the text of what the bill does.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We were able to distribute the text of the letter, including on social media, and we will work in coming
• <00:34:10.079> uh<00:34:10.399> distribute<00:34:11.200> the<00:34:11.520> text
• <00:34:12.399> of<00:34:12.720> the<00:34:12.960> letter to uh distribute the text
• ; keep the text, just add footnotes or notes, or, for example, just tell me pieces of original text and
• text and corresponding uh<00:50:47.599> material.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met to review its mission and to discuss recent work on a letter sent to the governor and legislative leaders regarding COVID vaccine safety and related scientific references. Members said the letter, which included 31 cited sources, had been delivered to the governor’s office, the Speaker’s office, and the Senate President’s office, and a press release had been issued. Several members defended the letter’s sourcing and urged the public to read the materials and evaluate the evidence themselves, while also acknowledging questions about the trustworthiness of some cited articles. A major portion of the meeting focused on a research assistant’s effort to use AI tools to help reconstruct and verify the committee’s 2024 COVID report with citations. She reported mixed results from Copilot and Gemini, noting that the tools often produced broad or incomplete outputs and that she would need to break the report into smaller sections and ask for more specific source types. Members advised using more precise prompts and emphasized that any AI output would still need human verification. The committee said it hoped to produce a revised, fully footnoted 2024 report by early September. The chair then outlined the committee’s fall agenda, saying it would examine long COVID treatment, the patient bill of rights as it relates to COVID vaccinations and death reporting, standards of care and professional judgment by New Hampshire health care providers, and oversight of federal COVID-related funding such as CARES Act education relief dollars. He also referenced a recent fraud case involving misuse of COVID funds and suggested the committee may ask the DOJ for information. The committee will not meet in July or August and plans to resume in September and October, with a final report targeted for the end of October. The chair also introduced a recent DNI/Tulsi Gabbard press release about U.S.-funded biolabs overseas, which members discussed as a possible transparency issue relevant to future pandemic policy.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't think it gives the right message.
• I don't think it gives the right message.
• <01:08:33.319> we think it it gives the right message we think it it gives the right message
• here to to spread to send that message here to to spread to send that message as<01:09:58.520>
• She asked what message this sends to the people of New Hampshire and beyond.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to our Department of Public Safety that the person is moved and that the DPS should cancel their texting
• It's unlikely to occur. but it does give text uncertainty and a final answer split between the two courts
• As Chairman Hughes laid it out, SB 311 is a simple bill that conforms the text... of Section 22.002A
• of the Government Code to the text of Article 5, Section 3A. of the Constitution, and that constitutional
• What about those other courts that are not mentioned in the text of 22.002A? For example...

Bills: SB16, SB76, SB310, SB311, SB396, SB505, SB827, SB964, SB1209, SB1210, SB1386, SB1470, SB2035, SJR37, SB 16

Keywords: voter registration, proof of citizenship, Election Code, criminal offenses, limited federal ballot, transportation, infrastructure, funding, public safety, state regulation, election, polling places, voter access, state oversight, electronic voting, voting, polling place, elections, countywide program, election integrity

Transcript Highlights:

• A phone call, an email, a text could solve it.
• email, a text could solve it. email, a text could solve it.
• Message from the Senate. Madam Speaker, the Senate has passed.
• Message from the Senate will be printed in the journal. Message from the revisor.
• Message from the governor. Honorable members of the Colorado...

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I suppose that it's a messaging difference.
• um difference I that it's a messaging um difference I suppose<01:21:35.920> that<01:21:36.080
• saying he has different numbers messages saying he has different numbers slightly<03:19:10.279> so
• I think we've got 48% in the text.
• to the so if we um in the in the text to the so if we look<03:37:09.640> at<03:37:09.880>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a work session focused on school funding formulas, adequacy aid, and special education aid, with the chair outlining a schedule for the next several Tuesdays and noting that the committee would likely need multiple executive sessions to narrow down the bills. Members discussed the FY 26 formula, including base cost, differentiated aid, extraordinary needs grants, hold harmless provisions, and the roughly $28 million in excess statewide education property tax (SWP) funds that are not currently returned to the state under the existing formula. The first bill discussed was HB 137, which would allow excess SWP funds to remain with the local municipality for school and municipal purposes. Representative Spilsbury argued the issue is fundamental and suggested the state should require excess funds to be remitted back to the state, while Representative Damon said the bill appears to codify current practice and may be unnecessary, especially given possible court action. The discussion then shifted to a related bill from Representative Fellas that would redefine SWP as local money rather than state money and keep the current adequacy aid numbers revenue-neutral for now. Representative Fellas explained that SWP was created in 1999 after the Claremont lawsuit as part of the state’s effort to show increased school aid, but that it effectively labeled part of the local property tax as state money without changing property tax bills. She argued the state should not be tapping local property tax revenue and said her bill would preserve the current distribution while removing the SWP tax label, with future work possible on a different measure of local capacity such as income, home values, or poverty rate. Members also referenced prior discussions of fiscal capacity aid, relief aid, and other formula changes as part of the broader effort to restructure school funding.

Transcript Highlights:

• , meaning they include engaging text, meaning they include engaging text, books,<00:09:46.880>
• <00:12:07.120> What<00:12:07.279> does engaging uh text or a book.
• What does engaging uh text or a book. What does that<00:12:07.600> mean? that mean?
• ,<00:12:15.760> but So, it's not just a list of texts, but So, it's not just a list of texts
• And so, the resource and analyze text.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee met after several reschedulings due to flooding, welcomed a new assistant, and confirmed a quorum. It first approved the March 11 minutes, then reported that the day’s agenda included 310 items totaling about $139.4 million, with all vendors registered with the Secretary of State. The committee then approved deferred items involving the Transportation Cabinet/Department of Highways, including one routine PSC green-list item and one PSC amendment item, after hearing from the Transportation Cabinet’s Division of Professional Services and noting prior questions had been answered. The bulk of the meeting focused on Department of Education contracts tied to reading and literacy initiatives. Officials described a competitive grant program for high-quality instructional resources and related professional learning, explaining that resources are selected through evidence-based reviews and a quality curriculum task force, and that districts apply using an instructional resources alignment rubric. Members questioned the program’s reach, whether districts opt in, how many schools applied, and whether the effort is producing measurable reading gains. Department witnesses said about 155 schools applied and were awarded, the program is voluntary, and the University of Louisville’s Reading Research Center is collecting qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate effectiveness. Several members expressed concern that the state has repeatedly funded literacy efforts without improving reading scores, though the committee ultimately approved the education items, with Senator Meredith noting support but frustration about the lack of progress. The committee also approved an MOA amendment item supporting the Principal Partnership Project, which provides tools, resources, and professional learning for administrators and helps meet statutory evaluation-training requirements. Members asked about the use of nonrecurring federal funds and whether the arrangement affects retirement benefits; staff said the contract pays districts based on daily wage and additional workdays, which does increase retirement packages. Representative McCool voted yes but voiced caution about possible supplanting. Finally, the committee took up an Office of the Controller contract for a brokered insurance-related procurement. Representative Balman moved to disapprove the contract, arguing the winning broker was not the low bidder and that the committee lacked answers about how technical scoring outweighed a roughly $600,000 price difference. The motion to disapprove did not prevail, and the contract was approved after further discussion about procurement scoring and the committee’s limited information.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, the other thing, your cell phone, we do also try to remind you with a group text reminder because
• But, uh, so anyway, if you have not received that group text that Jana sent out today, you'll get with
• even date of as well just with<00:04:47.199> a<00:04:47.360> group<00:04:47.680> text
• <00:04:48.240> reminder<00:04:48.560> because with a group text reminder because with
• if you have not received that group text if you have not received that group text that<00:04:58.960

Bills: HB180

Keywords: education, county superintendent, appointed, elected officials, Conecuh County, local control, 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe that is the guts of the bill, and I think the point of that is to try to make folks not text
• I believe that is the guts of the bill, and I think the point of that is to try to make folks not text
• I believe that is the guts of the bill, and I think the point of that is to try to make folks not text
• If they're texting and driving, we probably can't do it either if we couldn't do it for that.
• <00:29:23.279> and reckless um and if they're texting and reckless um and if they're texting

Keywords: Judiciary, Division B - Room 409, 2 February, 2026; 4:30 P.M., 925, all

Summary: The committee took up a series of criminal justice and public safety bills. Early discussion focused on immigration-related concerns and the costs of enforcement, with one senator pressing for data to support claims about crimes by undocumented immigrants and another citing specific cases and DPS removals of drivers with falsified CDLs. The committee also heard a bill requiring the sex marker on a driver’s license to match sex at birth; the sponsor said it was the same measure passed by the committee the prior year, and it received a title sufficient/do pass recommendation. Several bills addressed corrections and court procedures. One bill clarified that people in intervention court are subject to the sentencing judge’s sanctions and are not entitled to a separate technical-violation hearing like probationers or parolees; the sponsor said it would reduce, not increase, leniency, and the committee passed it. Another bill extended the statute of limitations for felonious assistance program fraud from five to ten years, citing the TANF fraud case and the need for more time to detect abuse in executive agency programs; it also passed. The committee then approved a bill allowing judges, after a hearing and specific findings, to order firearms removed in domestic violence cases and protective-order proceedings when the weapons pose a credible threat. The committee also advanced a bill increasing penalties for witness tampering, with the sponsor saying prosecutors wanted a stronger tool because defendants were sometimes willing to accept the current five-year penalty rather than face the underlying offense. Members discussed whether the bill covered intimidation versus tampering and whether the penalty should be tied to the underlying crime; a motion to reconsider/adjust the bill was adopted, and the bill ultimately received a do pass recommendation. Another measure increased fines for handheld mobile device violations while driving, especially in school and work zones, and members discussed whether the bill should be stronger and how any collected fines would be used; it passed. Finally, the committee approved a bill requiring reporting of certain convictions and adjudications to the Child Protective Services central registry, and ended by passing a bill increasing the fine for failing to use a screen on loads that can spill from vehicles and damage windshields, with members noting the fine had not been updated since 1974.

Transcript Highlights:

• Speaker, and yes, I did get a text from Representative Berg that they are in support.
• Speaker, and yes, I did<00:05:21.800> get<00:05:21.960> a<00:05:22.000> text<00:
• 05:22.640> um<00:05:22.800> Representative<00:05:23.280> Berg did get a text um
• Representative Berg did get a text um Representative Berg that<00:05:23.720> they<00:05:24.360

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House took up Senate File 1714, a bill on state government and payment transparency in public contracts. Representative Scott explained that the measure is intended to help Minnesota contractors and subcontractors know when public project payments have been made by requiring public owners, upon written request, to provide pay application and payment information within seven days at no cost. He said the bill had bipartisan support and backing from stakeholder groups, including trade associations and public entities, and that it would improve transparency for small businesses and workers waiting to be paid. The bill was amended with a technical change adding a missing word, and the amendment was adopted without opposition. During floor discussion, Representative Cleborn supported the bill, while Representative Berg asked whether trade unions supported it and noted that unions already have collective bargaining rights. Representative Sexton responded that IBEW and several trade unions had reached out and were very supportive. Scott later said he had received a text from Berg indicating support as well. After discussion ended, the House took a roll call vote. The bill passed as amended by a vote of 133 ayes and 0 nays.

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:47:01.040> that<02:47:01.279> New Let's send a clear message that New Let's send
• a clear message that New Hampshire<02:47:01.840> stands<02:47:02.399> for<02:47:02.720
• And when I asked the question, "What message would you bring to the lawmakers of New Hampshire?"
• And when I asked the question, "What message would you bring to the lawmakers of New Hampshire?"
• And I leave you with that message about individuals in New Hampshire just struggling to do right.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe it that every single person in this building gets the calls, gets the text messages, just like
• 48:01.680> the this building gets the calls, gets the this building gets the calls, gets the text
• <03:48:02.080> messages,<03:48:02.640> just<03:48:02.800> like<03:48:02.960>
• the text messages, just like the text messages, just like the representative<03:48:03.600> from

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It does not criminalize a single text message or compliment.
• It does not criminalize<01:38:04.320> a<01:38:05.119> single<01:38:05.679> text<
• 01:38:06.080> message<01:38:06.560> or criminalize a single text message or criminalize
• a single text message or compliment.<01:38:08.159> It<01:38:08.400> does<01:38:08.560>

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• pass with an amendment striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text
• the bill be amended by striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text
• Be it further ordered that all amendments to the proposed new text shall be second-reading amendments
• That all amendments to the proposed new text shall be second-reading amendments, but further amendments

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted a congratulatory resolution honoring Anna Karaz on her 100th birthday. It then took up and passed several local bills, including a measure authorizing bilingual ballots in English and Haitian Creole for the town of Randolph. The sponsor spoke in support, describing the bill as a home rule petition intended to improve access, civic participation, and voter turnout for Randolph’s growing Haitian Creole-speaking population. The bill was read a third time and passed to be engrossed. The Senate also passed a bill authorizing the Milford Select Board to appoint a highway surveyor. It received a Ways and Means report on House No. 4683, relative to teacher preparation and student literacy, recommending amendment by substitution of the text in Senate document No. 2924; the chamber suspended the rules to consider the order forthwith and adopted it. The Senate further suspended rules to process several Senate petitions and local matters, and then enacted bills amending the Provincetown charter, establishing the appointed town clerk position in Avon, and authorizing Westwood to reissue and grant certain alcohol licenses. Later, the Senate referred a House petition concerning retirement benefits for Valeria Dorazio to the Committee on Public Service after suspending Joint Rule 12. It then adopted an amendment substituting a new draft for a Plymouth bill, changing it to validate and confirm certain acts and proceedings of Plymouth officials, and passed the bill to be engrossed. The session also included remarks congratulating Sweet Paws Rescue on its 15th anniversary and upcoming facility move, followed by a motion to adjourn in memory of Gerard W. Moynihan, which was adopted after a moment of silence. The Senate adjourned to meet again the following Monday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is sending the wrong message. Breaking the rules carries little consequences.
• This is sending the wrong message. Breaking the rules carries little consequences.
• Sorry, didn't mean to get too text.
• mean<01:38:45.520> to<01:38:45.679> get<01:38:45.760> too<01:38:45.920> text
• didn't mean to get too text. didn't mean to get too text.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard opening remarks and ground rules from Chair David Tarnas, including a request for two-minute testimony limits, clear speaking, Zoom etiquette, and respectful conduct. The first measure taken up was HB 2062, relating to gun violence prevention, which would appropriate funds for enforcement of gun violence protective orders and for public awareness campaigns. Judiciary submitted written testimony recommending technical changes to clarify that it does not enforce laws and instead should be funded for personnel to process temporary restraining orders and gun violence protective orders; the Department of Law Enforcement supported the bill and said it is well positioned to conduct public education. Support also came from county and advocacy witnesses, including Moms Demand Action, Giffords Gun Owners for Safety, HGEA, and a retired police officer, while opposition testimony argued the measure raises due process and Fifth Amendment concerns and that education, not enforcement, should be the focus. The chair noted 37 testimonies in support, 103 in opposition, and three comments; no vote was taken in the portion provided. Testimony on HB 2062 emphasized both public safety and constitutional concerns. Supporters described the bill as a way to increase awareness of an existing legal tool, prevent suicides and shootings, and help law enforcement and the public understand gun violence protective orders. Opponents, including gun owners and firearms groups, argued that red flag laws can be abused, lack due process, and should not be expanded through state funding. A county neighborhood safety witness suggested an amendment to allow public, private, and nonprofit consultants to assist with training and implementation. Members asked a few questions, but the agencies with written testimony were not present, so the chair referred members to their submissions. The committee then moved to HB 2061, relating to firearms, which appropriates money for the state gun buyback program and requires at least two buyback events in each county. Written support was noted from the Department of Law Enforcement, Hawaii County Council, the County of Kauai Prosecuting Attorney, and the Hawaii State Association of Counties, with the latter emphasizing that buybacks are voluntary prevention tools that can reduce risk before crises escalate. Opposition came from the Mid-Pacific Pistol League, SDM Training Group/Bows and Bullets, and others; one witness argued buybacks are ineffective, costly, and can be vulnerable to misuse or black-market diversion, and suggested a year-round surrender option instead. The committee heard additional support from a retired police officer and from a gun violence survivor with Students Demand Action, but no final action or vote was taken in the excerpt provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Providers want clear, standardized messaging and tools.
• Providers want clear, standardized messaging and tools.
• Providers want clear, standardized messaging and tools.
• Within their borders, what harm reduction services are appropriate, and what messaging is acceptable.
• So, what would be done possibly to this bill, which things I didn't see in the text of the bill, I'm

Keywords: 1191, senate, all