Transcript Highlights:

• Fourth, this bill further undermines local control.
• New Hampshire has long local control.
• And if you believe in transparency and in voter control, in local control, would you please push the
• ,<05:03:29.600> in transparency and in voter control, in transparency and in voter control
• unelected bureaucrats regulatory control unelected bureaucrats regulatory control over<05:12:55.680

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• their control is is a tough cell for me. their control is is a tough cell for me. the<04:18:24.640
• necessarily have control over them. necessarily have control over them.
• control it, but they'd influence it. control it, but they'd influence it.
• Um, I've also heard local control come up.
• I heard it come up all control come up.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're just giving back local control to these municipalities to open up their short sections of road
• We're just giving back local control to these municipalities to open up their short sections of road
• Call your poison control center. So fluoride is poison. So is alcohol.
• Call your poison control center. Fluoride is poison. So is alcohol.
• For this bill, I believe it's a matter of local control.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee took up several bills in executive session, beginning with HB 568 on subdivision regulations concerning water supply. Representative Donnelly moved ITL, arguing the bill would create costly studies, that towns already have jurisdiction over needed studies, and that the issue was not widespread. The committee voted ITL 9-7. HB 582, dealing with safety requirements for personal watercraft, was also moved ITL on the grounds that existing law already covers the issue and the bill was unnecessary after recent action on personal flotation devices. Representative Derby opposed the ITL, saying the bill was a common-sense safety measure and would restore a misdemeanor penalty, but the committee voted ITL 9-7. The committee then retained HB 595, relative to coastal resilience zones, after members said the bill was important but needed more work and time because of its complexity. Members noted it should be revisited later, and the motion to retain passed 16-0. HB 607, funding the Hampton Beach Area Commission and making appropriations, received an ought-to-pass recommendation 15-1, with support from members who described Hampton Beach as an important economic driver and one dissenting member saying the state should not bear the full cost. The committee also adopted Amendment 2025-3 on HB 624, establishing a local river management advisory committee grant program, by a 16-0 vote; the amendment shifted funding decisions to the Department of Environmental Services based on demonstrated need and a first-come, first-served process. The bill as amended then received an ought-to-pass recommendation 16-0 and was placed on consent. Later, the committee retained HB 629, funding the operation, maintenance, and repair of state dams, after members said the dams need attention but the bill required more work because suggested amendments had just been received. That motion passed 16-0. HB 644, concerning drones in state parks, was ITL’d because the Department of Parks and Recreation is already working through rulemaking on UAS use in remote areas, and the committee voted 16-0 for ITL. HB 657, the short notice booking act access for New Hampshire residents to state parks, was also ITL’d at the request of the prime sponsor, passing 16-0. The committee then adjourned and announced a later hearing on HB 663, which would allow the Division of Historical Resources to use a portion of Moose plate funds for administering its grant program; testimony from the sponsor and the division supported the bill as clarifying existing authority, and no final vote on HB 663 was included in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• I did invite our Facilities Planning and Control team to come and just give us a little bit of an update
• Yes, Matt Baker, Director of the Office of Facility Planning and Control.
• , the other part of that is all of that $50 million in savings was found in Facility Planning and Control
• All of that $50 million in savings was found in Facility Planning and Control for 54% of the bill, right
• we're seeing is I think we're going to see a lot of cash appropriated with P5, but you guys also control

Bills: SB406

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I did invite our facilities planning and control team to come and just give us a little bit of an update
• Yes, Matt Baker, Director of the Office of Facility Planning and Control.
• and the other part of that is all of that $50 million in savings was found in Facility Planning and Control
• All of that $50 million in savings was found in Facility Planning and Control for 54% of the bill, right
• we're seeing is I think we're going to see a lot of cash appropriated with P5, but you guys also control

Summary: The Ways and Means Committee met on May 26 and first took up Senate Bill 406, which authorizes the city of Slidell to seek voter approval for a local hotel and motel occupancy tax. The bill was described as a local measure giving the city council authority to place the tax on the ballot, with members noting that similar taxing authority exists in many other municipalities. Representative Wiley moved favorable passage, there was no objection, and the bill was reported favorably. The committee then received an update from the Division of Administration’s Office of Facility Planning and Control on capital outlay savings identified through cash-flow review and project “scrubbing.” Officials said they found about $50 million in savings from updated cash flows, over-appropriations, projects bid under budget, and reduced appropriations in bundled projects. They explained that bundling projects, including some LED-related projects, allows agencies to shift savings within a bundle and manage overruns or underruns more flexibly. Members praised the savings work but asked whether the process could be moved earlier so the House could benefit sooner, and whether similar reviews could be expanded to other administering agencies and non-state projects. One member raised concerns about whether some projects, including schools and certain NGO-related items, should qualify for capital outlay funding at all, and urged a review of the statutory definition and project approval criteria. Staff said they would look at the definition, review recommendations from prior discussions, and consider ways to tighten the process. The committee then adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• decisions they This is about fixing a system that puts voters in the middle of decisions they don't control
• No more veto power, no cross party control, because voting is fundamental and it should never depend
• Is just an effort to somehow control the election of the other party, the other Is just an effort to
• somehow control the election of the other party, the other side, without allowing us the ability to to
• mandates one way or the other, we're trying to take the middle ground to say that you get to have local control

Transcript Highlights:

• We're taking up tab 3 now with Senator Yarbrough, going over to SB 432 on controlled substances by Senator
• concentrated at a level above 400 parts per million on a dry weight basis to the list of Schedule I controlled
• Second, the bill amends Section 893 to exempt from the list of Schedule I controlled substances zylazine
• scientifically defined as a disease that impacts our brain and our behavior and leads to the inability to control
• It's going to set me off, and I'm going to lose control.

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice heard and approved several bills. SB 504 and its related public records bill SB 506, both by Sen. Burgess, would allow local governments to authorize code enforcement officers to use body cameras under standardized policies and create a public records exemption for certain recordings; members raised questions about disclosure and when cameras may be used, and both bills were reported favorably. The committee also approved CS/SB 32 and SB 210 by Sen. Sharif, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person and extending public records protections to petitions under that injunction category. Supporters included law enforcement, women’s advocacy groups, and justice organizations. The committee then favorably reported SB 676 by Sen. Arrington, which creates a graduated penalty structure for adults who involve minors in certain animal cruelty offenses and increases penalties related to fighting or baiting animals. SB 432 by Sen. Yarbrough was also approved; it adds certain concentrated 7-OH to Schedule I, exempts FDA-approved veterinary xylazine products, creates penalties for candy-like xylazine products, and establishes trafficking penalties for xylazine. Sen. Osgood spoke in support of the bill, emphasizing the dangers of adulterated street drugs for people with substance use disorder. Finally, the committee approved SB 524 by Sen. Simon, which makes a series of technical and administrative changes affecting the Medical Examiners Commission, district medical examiner appointments, the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, and notice procedures for administrative complaints. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement appeared in support. All measures were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• Yarbrough, going over to tab 3, SB 432 on controlled substances by Senator Yarbrough.
• concentrated at a level above 400 parts per million on a dry weight basis to the list of Schedule I controlled
• Second, the bill amends Section 893 to except from the list of Schedule I controlled substances xylazine
• scientifically defined as a disease that impacts our brain and our behavior and leads to the inability to control
• It's going to set me off, and I'm going to lose control.

Bills: S0032, S0210, S0432, S0504, S0506, S0524, S0676

Keywords: injunctions, protection orders, domestic violence, serious violence, court procedures, enforcement, risk protection, statewide communication system, public records, violence protection, confidentiality, defamation, code inspector, code enforcement, body camera, body-worn camera, police body cam, municipal code enforcement, local government, video recording

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice met with a quorum present and considered several bills. The committee heard and approved SB 504, allowing local governments to adopt standardized policies for code enforcement officers to use body cameras, and SB 506, which creates a related public records exemption for certain body camera recordings, including protections for minors and private information. Senator Smith raised questions about notice to property owners and use limitations, and Senator Osgood asked whether cameras must be on at all times; the sponsor said he would follow up on specifics. Both bills had support from local government and code enforcement groups and were reported favorably after adoption of an amendment to SB 504 clarifying training and familiarity with camera rules. The committee also approved CS/SB 32, creating a new injunction for protection against serious violence by a known person, and SB 210, the companion public records exemption for petitions involving that injunction. Senator Sharif said the bills fill a gap for victims who do not qualify under existing injunction categories, and supporters waived in favor. SB 676, by Senator Arrington, was also reported favorably; it creates a graduated penalty structure for contributing to the delinquency of a minor when the underlying conduct involves certain animal cruelty offenses, and increases penalties for fighting or baiting animals. Senator Osgood spoke in support, tying the bill to protecting children and animals, and several law enforcement and animal welfare groups waived in support. The committee further approved SB 432, which adds certain concentrated 7-OH to Schedule I, exempts FDA-approved veterinary xylazine products, creates a first-degree felony with a mandatory minimum for certain candy-like xylazine products, and establishes trafficking penalties for xylazine. Senator Osgood spoke at length in support, emphasizing overdose risks and the impact on people with substance use disorder. Finally, the committee passed SB 524, which revises duties and appointments related to the Medical Examiners Commission and district medical examiners, clarifies responsibilities within Chapter 943, and changes notification and curriculum approval provisions for criminal justice standards. All measures were reported favorably, and the committee adjourned without objection.

Transcript Highlights:

• We focus on local control of their taxes.
• And we control, remember, the state controls the school property taxes.
• So we want to, the more control, and we also passed a bill this session to eliminate the waivers because
• When you had 39 attorney generals the week before send a letter to Congress saying... this is out of control

Keywords: 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We focus on local control of their taxes.
• Property taxes and the first, you know, and we control remember the state controls the school property
• So we want the more control and we also passed a bill this session to eliminate the waivers because you
• when you had 39 attorney generals the week before send a letter to Congress saying this is out of control

Transcript Highlights:

• being evaluated don't have any control being evaluated don't have any control over. over. over.
• So that would frankly control over.
• Nor do they have any control over that.
• you've got to do something to control you've got to do something to control your<01:27:03.920>
• So, they need a little time to control.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The committee began a work session on House Bill 1600, concerning access to the centralized voter registration database on election days. Secretary of State David Scanlan testified that the state already has a new statewide voter registration system connected to town clerks and supervisors of the checklist, and that the bill was probably unnecessary but acceptable if the legislature wanted it. He raised concern about language that could require direct electronic access in every polling place, noting that some polling locations lack reliable internet or cell service and that municipalities can change polling locations, which could make a rigid requirement expensive and impractical. Members discussed whether the bill should be clarified to allow direct or indirect access, including use of a phone-based workaround, and the secretary said that would address his concern. The committee then voted on HB 1600. Representative Maguire moved ought to pass with an amendment adding “direct or indirect access” on page one, line seven, and the motion was seconded. The amendment was adopted 9-0 by voice vote, and the committee then voted 9-0 to OTP the bill. The chair stated that HB 1600 would be placed on consent. The committee next took up House Bill 1197F FN, a technical correction to insurance laws. Members noted it had already passed the House with amendment and that the fiscal note was effectively indeterminate but would not affect the general fund because the insurance agency is self-funded. The committee voted 9-0 to OTP the bill; the chair said consent calendar placement would be decided by the full committee. Finally, the committee opened a work session on House Bill 11:30 FN regarding judicial performance evaluations. Representative Lynn, the bill’s sponsor, argued that the fiscal note overstated the immediate cost and said the judicial branch could likely manage through the current biennium while implementing the new system. He also supported making judges’ names public and said the bill’s anonymity provisions were aimed at protecting the identities of questionnaire respondents, not the judges being evaluated. Members asked about public disclosure, internal access to evaluation materials, and the removal of language allowing the governor and executive council to receive evaluations on request; discussion continued on those points, but no final vote on HB 11:30 FN was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So before allowing controlled access.
• three truck platoon from more controlled three truck platoon from more controlled highway<00:19:
• Our concerns center in a few key areas: transit, safety, labor, and local control.
• We do not have remote operators who are able to control that.
• We only have remote to control that.

Bills: HF3553, HF3513, HF3576

Keywords: vehicle platooning, transportation, public safety, pilot project, Wilkin County, Grant County, autonomous vehicles, transportation regulations, driverless cars, safety standards, first responder interaction, school bus, third-party testing, driver certification, transportation regulation, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• We all saw otherwise on our control.
• The situation is under control.'
• <01:03:17.119> This situation is under control." This situation is under control."
• but we can control the hustle.
• the scoreboard but we can control the scoreboard but we can control<02:04:14.960> the<02:04:15.199

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Friday, June 27, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• have that control.
• have that control.
• have that control.
• have that control.
• have that control.

Bills: HF2103, HF2793

Keywords: energy, renewable energy, ammonia, hydrogen, certificate tracking, funding, environment, community solar, energy policy, sustainability, solar garden program, regulation sunset, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• controller for DAGs in opposition. controller for DAGs in opposition.
• Okay, actually have a question for the controller. Thank you.
• I think he's done as good or better than any other controller has done at kind of controlling waste and
• I think he's done as good or better than any other controller has done at kind of controlling waste and
• Keith Regan, controller and here.

Bills: SB2198, SB2140, SB3055, SB3090, SB3091, SB3092, SB2761

Keywords: workforce development, craftspersons, skilled trades, artisan, craftsmanship, trade recognition, award program, DLIR, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, vocational education, career pathways, cultural preservation, workforce excellence, apprenticeship, Hawaii trades, economic diversification, public nominations, governor awards, historically significant venue

Transcript Highlights:

• The Oil Pollution Control Fund, the other fund affected by this bill, is for the agencies' emergency
• fund the other fund Pollution Control fund the other fund that's<00:46:43.400> affected<00:46
• That portion there is for the Oil Pollution Control Fund.
• fund you have a Pollution Control fund you have a effective<00:59:38.480> date<00:59:38.680><
• uh oil uh disposal and Pollution Control uh oil uh disposal and Pollution Control fund<01:33:14.320

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee first held a public hearing on HB 660, which would require historic horse racing facilities to pay 10% of HHR winnings to host communities as mitigation. Representative Om said the amendment was intended to leave charities and the state whole while funding local costs tied to large gaming facilities. Supporters argued the measure would address future municipal expenses, while opponents said host towns have not reported current problems and that the bill would single out one industry. Members questioned the 10% rate, whether the proposal was retroactive, and whether it would apply to existing facilities; the sponsor said it would apply to facilities already in place or later added. The hearing was then closed without any vote recorded in the transcript. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 658-FN, which raises reimbursement caps and adjusts fees for the Oil Discharge and Disposal Cleanup Fund and the Oil Pollution Control Fund. Representative Malloy introduced the bill, and Representative Aly explained the funds as a state-backed insurance mechanism for oil spill cleanup and prevention, including replacement of leaking home heating oil tanks for low-income homeowners. Bob Scully of the Energy Marketers Association supported the bill, saying the fee structure helps fund remediation and tank replacement, though costs are ultimately passed on to consumers. Department of Environmental Services officials Robert Bishop and Jennifer Marts described the bill as extending the fee collection for 10 years, changing reporting dates, increasing the cap for low-income tank replacement, and rebalancing fees based on an actuarial review. DES testified that the actuarial study found the fund needed to remain solvent and that home heating oil releases are the largest category of new releases, with the fuel oil fee otherwise needing to rise by more than 200% to cover projected costs. The board instead proposed a smaller increase and adjusted other fees accordingly, while maintaining a reserve to cover the first days of a major coastal spill before federal funds become available. Members asked about the basis for the fee changes, the role of the actuarial review, and the statutory language governing who pays the fees. The transcript ends during this hearing, with no final committee action or vote shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Do you send it—do you have any control?
• It's not in the rider that controls it. This was a request, not a request. So this is new.
• And so the answer is, we clearly have observed this, but we don't have much control over it.
• Yeah, control issues.
• I'm just saying there's a high probability when you don't handle the controls of a project like this.

Bills: SB 1

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee first heard the Legislative Budget Board and Secretary of State Jane Nelson on the Secretary of State budget. LBB said the recommendation would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million overall, with major changes including removing federal HAVA funding and one-time business system replacement money, adjusting the agency’s base request, deleting an outdated Interstate Crosscheck rider, and directing HAVA funds to be drawn down first. Secretary Nelson and staff defended the agency’s needs, emphasizing election security, business filings, international protocol, and the Texas Register, and requested additional staff, a new website, digitization of records, IT and cybersecurity upgrades, and renovation of the Rudder Building. Senators discussed voter-roll maintenance, cross-checking data, call-center response times, and the need for online voter registration and more efficient election administration. No votes were taken. The committee then took up the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB outlined a $2.4 million decrease for the office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs, driven by unexpended balances and the removal of one-time federal and border-security items, while noting continued funding for disaster response, victim assistance, and $2.9 billion for border security at roughly the prior level. Governor’s staff said Texas remains focused on border security, economic development, and public safety, and discussed efforts to seek federal reimbursement for prior border spending. Members asked about the National Guard’s status, possible federal assumption of border costs, the music incubator program, the Semiconductor Innovation Consortium, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, defense economic adjustment grants, and a new $5 million nonprofit security grant proposal. Staff said the semiconductor program has 12 approved projects totaling about 948 jobs and $17 billion in capital investment, and that the nonprofit security request was added late to address threats to houses of worship and other nonprofits. No formal action was taken. Finally, the committee heard the Texas Facilities Commission and lease-payment recommendations. LBB said the Facilities Commission recommendation would reduce appropriations by about $2.0 billion, mainly by removing border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, while adding money for higher utility costs, Rudder Building refurbishment, and additional staff. The lease-payment recommendation would decrease general revenue by $9.3 million. LBB also noted new riders related to completing the State Library and Archives building, tenant communication during disruptions, and a space-utilization report. In agency testimony, members asked about border wall maintenance responsibility, total facilities-related debt, and the status of capital complex construction. The Rudder Building renovation and related security needs were repeatedly discussed as important one-time infrastructure investments.

Transcript Highlights:

• ..to some of the advocates for this bill specifically about forest management and, in particular, control
• there was a conflict between forest management scientists and climate scientists on the value of control
• Together, these bills would designate 412,000 acres of forest and watershed lands controlled by the Mass
• Department of Conservation and Recreation as parks and reserves. controlled by the Mass Department of
• Whether they're historic sites or under NPS control and ownership, because they can't go on and enforce

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing covered several environment and natural resources bills focused on natural and working lands, forest protection, municipal reforestation, trail accessibility, and a park naming bill. Representative Moschino and Senator Comerford described the natural and working lands bill as part of the state’s climate roadmap, arguing that protecting these lands supports carbon sequestration, resilience, biodiversity, and helps prevent development pressure on the least expensive land. Senator Comerford also testified on a separate bill to expand access to trails for people of all abilities, saying it would build on the administration’s Trails for All initiative and create a permanent advisory structure and trust fund. Representative Consolvo and family members testified in support of H. 4259 to name the tennis courts at Wether Park in Roslindale after Kim O’Connell, describing her long community service and activism. A large portion of the hearing focused on H. 952 and H. 953, bills to protect watershed and state forest lands as parks or reserves. Supporters, including environmental advocates, scientists, and organizations such as Standing Trees, Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, and the Massachusetts Forest Alliance’s opponents, debated whether state forests and watershed lands should be permanently reserved from logging and other active management. Supporters said the bills would improve carbon storage, water quality, biodiversity, flood and drought resilience, and would protect large acreages of public land at no cost. Opponents, including the Massachusetts Forest Alliance, argued that sustainable forest management and a mix of reserves and managed forests are needed for climate, water quality, wildfire prevention, rural jobs, and carbon outcomes, and urged the committee to allow the administration’s existing reserve process to continue. The committee also heard extensive testimony on the municipal reforestation bill, H. 1013/S. 553, which would create a statewide program, advisory council, and trust fund to support urban tree planting and maintenance. Municipal officials and advocates from Wellesley, Cambridge, Boston, the Mystic River watershed, and other communities said urban trees are critical for cooling, stormwater control, air quality, public health, and equity, especially in environmental justice neighborhoods with low canopy cover and high heat. Several witnesses emphasized that consistent funding is needed because trees take years to mature and many municipalities lack staff or watering capacity. Some witnesses asked that the bill be funded at $100 million and tied to the Mass Ready Act or environmental bond funding. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• performed self-audit procedure performed by an independent third party, self-assessment of internal control
• Local control. Local control.
• Johnson County's lack of internal controls documented by the independent third-party auditor increases
• Since the director confirmed to me that Johnson County has a lack of internal controls and that a lack
• of internal controls increases the risk of fraud, I felt this research was necessary.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll fight with all of us together, and we're going to have democratic control of the things that we
• Something like this may very well have a negative impact because of the lack of controls in place with
• A person who has custody or control of any unused medication prescribed under this article after the
• That the person, that there is the person who has custody or control over this unused medication, in
• If this was a physician in a Hospital pill or controlled environment with a medical professional, you

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened, approved the prior journal, received messages and substitutions from the Assembly, and welcomed two new members, Senators Erik Bottcher and Jeremy Zellner. The chamber then adopted the resolution calendar and took up a privileged resolution sponsored by Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins memorializing Governor Hochul to proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month in New York. Senators Bailey, Baskin, Sanders, Scarcella-Spanton, Brisport, Parker, Cleare, Comrie, and others spoke in support, emphasizing Black history as American history, the importance of education and remembrance, and the contributions of Black New Yorkers and historical figures. The resolution was adopted, and the leader opened it for co-sponsorship. The Senate then moved to the bill calendar and passed several measures, including bills on civil procedure, urban development, labor, and public service law. One labor bill was substituted from the Assembly and passed. Several energy and utility-related bills drew debate, with supporters arguing they would improve affordability, utility rate-setting, and consumer protections, while opponents said they would not meaningfully lower costs and instead reflected broader policy choices. Senator Walczyk voted no on one utility bill, and Senators Tedisco and others criticized the package; Senators Mayer and Harckham defended the measures as needed reforms to utility regulation and return-on-equity standards. Most bills were approved by wide margins, including one public service bill that passed 53-9 and another that passed 61-1.