Transcript Highlights:

• sent an email to both Democrats and Republicans of 1,600 well-qualified scientists who signed a petition
• Second thing I would reference in the late 90s, over 31,000 U.S. scientists signed a petition, 9,000
• that said there is no climate petition that said there is no climate crisis.<01:50:05.199> 1600
• 50:12.480> scientists<01:50:13.119> signed<01:50:13.440> a<01:50:14.040> petition
• 31,000 US scientists signed a petition 31,000 US scientists signed a petition 9,000<01:50:15.679

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• committees on rules, acting concurrently, report recommending that Joint Rule 12 be suspended on a petition

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed St. Michael’s School from Fall River, including its eighth-grade graduating class, as guests. The session then moved through several routine matters from the Committee on Rules, including resolutions honoring the Egan Foundation’s IgA nephropathy awareness day, commemorating Danvers’ 1776 meeting anniversary, congratulating two Eagle Scouts, and recognizing the Swansea Fire Department’s 100th anniversary. All of those resolutions were adopted by voice vote, and the House also suspended Joint Rule 12 to send a petition on firefighting staffing to the Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. The House next acted on matters reported by the Committee on Steering Policy and Scheduling, advancing a Senate bill authorizing print-free digital legal notices in Newton and a House bill naming a segment of Route 20 the Broder Curve. Both bills were ordered to a third reading. The House then passed to enact House No. 4842, clarifying the organization of the Lexington Housing Assistance Board. Later, the House passed to engrossment House No. 3645, designating a portion of Route 7A in Lenox as the Ross B. Dindio Memorial Highway. It also considered House No. 4604, which directs the Boston Police Department to waive the maximum age requirement for Louisa Fernandez; an amendment making the act effective upon passage was adopted, and the bill was then passed to engrossment as amended. The House adopted an order to meet again the following Thursday at 11 a.m. and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the two branches acting concurrently report recommending that Joint Rule 12 be suspended on a petition

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House first adopted several committee-reported resolutions honoring individuals and community achievements, including Virginia Ann Conley, New Betancourt, Joseph P. Nickerson Sr. on his 100th birthday, and Andrew Labovitz for attaining Eagle Scout. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow a petition by Stephen Altrino concerning treatment of cleft palate and cleft lip to move to the Committee on Financial Services. The House then took up two local bills on second reading: H.5334, allowing Franklin to increase its local hotel excise tax limit, and H.5365, amending the Falmouth Home Rule Charter to create a Licensing Commission. Both were ordered to a third reading. Later, the House passed to be enacted S.1446, changing the residency requirement for the Tewksbury town manager, and two Haverhill police age-exemption bills for Nick Santos and Anthony Morales. It also passed to be engrossed S.3018, authorizing Berkeley to recall elected officials, and H.5099, allowing Rainham to grant an additional all-alcoholic-beverages license. The House adopted an order to meet again Wednesday at 11 a.m. and a special adjournment in memory of former Representative Benjamin Swan of Springfield, who served from 1994 to 2016. The session then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• branches, acting concurrently, report recommending that Joint Rule 12 be suspended on the joint petition

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then adopted a resolution congratulating the town of Kingston on its 300th anniversary after suspending the rules. The chamber also recognized the 2025 cheerleading squad captains and coaches for winning the MSAA small co-ed division championship and being named grand champions, as well as the Franklin High School girls’ varsity volleyball team for winning the MIAA Division I championship. The House received a gubernatorial message submitting fiscal year 2026 supplemental appropriations requests, which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow consideration of a petition authorizing eminent domain in Norwood, referring that matter to the Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling then placed several local bills on the calendar, including measures for Plainville, Milford, Westboro, Revere, and Hopedale. Those local bills were taken up on second reading and ordered to a third reading. The House also considered Senate amendment House 4171, concerning vacancies among town meeting members in Milford; the amendment was reported correctly drawn, the House concurred, and the bill was passed to be enacted. The session ended with adoption of an order to adjourn and the House standing adjourned to meet Monday at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• a multitude of faith traditions, we each offer prayers that reside deep in our souls, laying the petitions

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, February 5, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition.

Bills: SB 2, SB 3, SB 10, SB 16, SB 5, SB 9, SB 7, SB 17, SB 4, SB 19, SB 54, HB23, HB17, HB16, SB19, SB53, SB54, HB16, HB17, HB23, HB27, SB9, SB7, SB17, SB4, SB2, SB3, SB10, SB16, SB5

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, real property theft, real property fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• Presentations and petitions, there are none. Introduction and reference of bills will be deferred.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Next order of business is motions, petitions, communications, and announcements.
• Motions, petitions, communications, and announcements.
• <02:02:36.560> Motions,<02:02:36.880> petitions, Time has expired.
• Motions, petitions, Time has expired.
• Motions, petitions, communications,<02:02:37.840> and<02:02:37.920> announcements.

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• a commissioner's deed and has not been recorded within 30 business days of receipt, the city may petition
• /c><00:22:00.720> the<00:22:00.840> city<00:22:01.120> may<00:22:01.320> petition
• days of receipt, the city may petition days of receipt, the city may petition the<00:22:01.960><
• Next order of business is motions, petitions, communications, and announcements.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened with 98 members present, declared a quorum, approved the prior journal, and received Senate concurrence requests on Senate Bills 263, 281, and 324. The chamber then moved through second readings and committee reports on a range of measures, including education, agriculture, banking and insurance, judiciary, licensing, and task force resolutions. Among the reported bills were measures on KEES scholarships for non-certified schools, a residential safe room rebate program, dual credit scholarships, impeding a first responder, motor vehicles, tallow-based cosmetic products, animal health emergencies, mortgage loan income limits, deferred deposit fees, child protection, Attorney General operations, corrections operations, school leadership, school transportation, advanced mathematics coursework, and task forces on charitable gaming and early childhood education governance. The House passed House Bill 642, a Teachers' Retirement System housekeeping bill, after adopting House Committee Substitute 1. The sponsor said the bill updates survivor benefit documentation, raises the daily earnings limit for retired members returning to work from $170 to $200, removes an unused early-return provision, reinstates a pension waiver program, clarifies benefit tier calculations using an earlier participation date in another state system, and allows a parent member to manage payments for a disabled child without a court order. Members asked about substitute teaching limits, retirement penalties, budget impact, and a removed provision involving index funds; the sponsor said he would follow up on the day limits and stated he did not believe the bill would add to unfunded liability. The bill passed 96-0. The House also passed House Bill 780 on recording commissioner’s deeds, after adopting a floor amendment that removed fines and penalties. The bill allows a city to petition circuit court if a deed is not recorded within 30 business days, and the court may compel filing and award costs and attorney’s fees. Members discussed whether the bill effectively created a lawsuit-based enforcement mechanism rather than a fine, and supporters said it would help local governments identify responsible property owners and address code enforcement and public safety issues. The bill passed 96-0. House Bill 541, concerning peace officers, also passed after a committee substitute; the sponsor said it cleans up Kentucky Law Enforcement Council procedures, strengthens certification standards, clarifies revocation language, and reflects input from law enforcement groups. It passed 95-0. House Bill 195, the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative, passed after a committee substitute and floor amendment. The substitute added Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension alongside UK Cooperative Extension, and the floor amendment changed the pilot’s implementation date to January 1, 2027 and adjusted the program’s term timing. Supporters said the bill would expand urban agriculture education, connect youth to food systems and career pathways, and help students in urban counties learn practical agricultural skills; it passed 97-0. The House then took up House Bill 794 on financial exploitation, which expands protections to all adults age 65 and older, adds felony penalties for knowingly, wantonly, or recklessly exploiting those adults, allows the attorney general to seek extradition from another state, and requires investment advisers to complete three hours of continuing education on financial exploitation. Members cited real-world scam experiences and urged stronger penalties, but the bill passed 96-0.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Committee on Rules of the two branches acting concurrently reports a petition accompanied by a bill

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several routine matters. It adopted an emergency preamble for H. 4182, a sick leave bank bill for Jato Charlotton of the Department of Transportation, and later passed that bill to be enacted and sent it to the Governor. The Senate also adopted resolutions honoring the 14th Dalai Lama and congratulating two Eagle Scouts, Jack Geyser and Windsor Sheppler. The chamber then considered H. 4103, establishing a sick leave bank for Stephen Forget of the Worcester County Sheriff’s Office. The bill was taken up out of the orders of the day, ordered to a third reading, and passed to be engrossed. A House bill, H. 4230, establishing a sick leave bank for James Caruso of the Department of Transportation, was also advanced when the Senate suspended the rules and ordered it to a third reading. The Committee on Rules reported a petition and bill from Pavel Payano to expand access to the family self-sufficiency program in Massachusetts. The Senate suspended its rules and Joint Rule 12 so the matter could be referred to the committees on housing. At the close of session, the Senate adopted an order to reconvene on Monday at 11:00 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar, then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the two branches, acting concurrently, reports recommending that Joint Rule 12 be suspended on the petition

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House opened with a pledge of allegiance and adopted a series of ceremonial resolutions, including one honoring the Friends of the Somerset Public Library for National Friends of Libraries Week. Members also suspended the rules to take up a report from the Committee on Rules, which recommended suspending Joint Rule 12 on a Watertown petition concerning property tax classifications for fiscal year 2027 and later; the House approved that suspension and referred the petition to the Committee on Revenue. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling then reported several local bills for House consideration, including measures for Swampscott, Marblehead, Greenfield, Randolph, Williamsburg, and a bill authorizing alternate members to the Swampscott Conservation Commission. After suspending Rule 7A, the House gave these bills second reading and ordered them to a third reading. The House also took up three Haverhill firefighter age-exemption bills for Stephen Justice, Javier Vargas, and Britney Sproll, and passed each to be engrossed. Later, the House enacted H. 1596, as amended, establishing a sick leave bank for Anna C. Contreras, a Trial Court employee. The chamber then adopted an order to meet again Monday at 11 a.m. and adjourned to that time.

Transcript Highlights:

• The papers from the House: The House petition of Paul McMurtry, relative to licenses for off-premises

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up two local bills for final passage: House No. 2320, establishing an appointed treasurer-collector in Berkeley, and House No. 4136, further regulating stabilization funds in Leicester. Both bills were approved to be enacted and sent to the Governor after being signed by the President. The Senate also adopted a resolution offered by Senator Gomez commending the Taino people in recognition of October 13, 2025, as Indigenous Peoples Day. In addition, the chamber suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer a House petition by Paul McMurtry concerning off-premises retail alcohol licenses near other such licenses to the Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. Several Senate orders from Senator Rodrigues were then adopted, advancing bills related to disposable menstrual products, menstrual product ingredient disclosure, the move over law, and use restrictions for the Foxborough State Hospital. Each order required suspension of Senate rules and placed the measures on the Orders of the Day for later consideration with Ways and Means new drafts pending where applicable. Before adjournment, the Senate adopted an order setting the next meeting for Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. and dispensing with the printing of a calendar. The Senate then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• two branches acting concurrently, report recommending that Joint Rule 12 be suspended on a joint petition

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House convened, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and welcomed the Bellingham High School girls volleyball team, which had just won the 2025 Division III State Championship, the first state title in the school’s history. The House then suspended Joint Rule 12 on a joint petition from John Bartlett III regarding school choice, allowing the petition to go to the Committee on Education. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling reported several bills for House consideration, including measures on expanding ballot access for regional school district votes, authorizing Billerica to set an age limit for original appointment of police officers, improving business improvement districts, a Bridgewater charter amendment for gender-neutral language, and a Westwood alcohol licensing measure. The House suspended Rule 7A, took the bills up on second reading, and ordered them to a third reading. The chamber then passed several local bills: House 4173, regulating appointments to the Acton Memorial Library, was passed to be enacted, and House 3912, increasing the Melrose Board of Health from three to five members, was passed to be reenacted. On third reading, the House engrossed Senate 2625, authorizing Quincy revenue bonds for telecommunications facilities, and House 4504 and House 4505, both Nantucket-related measures involving gender-neutral charter language and conveyance of school streets. The House also adopted an order to adjourn to meet Thursday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned to that time in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• the two branches, acting concurrently, report recommending that Joint Rule 12 be suspended on a petition

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The House convened, led the Pledge of Allegiance, and welcomed the Walpole High School field hockey team. The chamber then adopted several procedural orders: extending reporting deadlines for the Committee on Health Care Financing and the Committee on Public Health, and suspending Joint Rule 12 to allow a petition creating a special commission on perimenopause and menopause care to go to the Committee on Public Health. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling also reported several bills for House consideration, including measures concerning Social Security numbers on death certificates and a Hull local option bill on parking fines. The House suspended Rule 7A and advanced three bills to third reading: House No. 2383, relative to Social Security numbers on death certificates; House No. 2438, removing Social Security numbers from death certificates; and House No. 4247, authorizing the Town of Hull to establish a schedule of fines for parking violations. All three were ordered to a third reading. The House then took up two local bills released from the third-reading committee: House No. 862, regarding the recall of elected officers in Sharon, and House No. 4399, further amending the charter of Middleton. Both bills were passed to be engrossed. Finally, the House adopted an order to adjourn and recessed, then formally adjourned to meet Thursday next at 11 a.m. in an informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your

Bills: SB 2, SB 3, SB 10, SB 16

Keywords: flash flood, flood warning, outdoor warning siren, emergency alert, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, Hill Country floods, Texas Water Development Board, municipalities, counties, local government mandate, public safety, grant program, backup power, weather siren, emergency management, flood-prone area, warning system, real property theft, real property fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• And then turning to page eight, lines one through seven, subsection seven, a hearing on a petition for

Bills: HB1455

Keywords: tribal consultation, Indian Affairs Commission, tribal governments, tribal sovereignty, state-tribal relations, Native American, tribal nations, consultation requirement, legislative process, jurisdiction, sovereignty, North Dakota tribes, government-to-government consultation, tribal chairpersons, 908, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee took up House Bill 1489, and Victoria Christian from Legislative Council reviewed the latest 3003 version. She explained that the bill was revised to clarify language about individuals who are or were in a dating relationship, to incorporate provisions from related Senate bills, and to narrow confidentiality and hearing provisions to domestic violence and sexual assault protection order cases. She also noted a clarification on page 12 regarding certification of certain individuals under Supreme Court rules rather than by the Supreme Court itself. Members discussed the consolidation of multiple related bills into one measure. Senator Myrdal moved Amendment 3.03 to engross House Bill 1489, and the motion passed. Senator Myrdal then moved a do pass recommendation on House Bill 1489 as amended, seconded by Senator Luick. The committee voted in favor of the amended bill by roll call, with all members present voting yes, and the motion carried. Chair Larson then asked for a member to carry the bill to the floor, and it was agreed that the bill would be carried. The committee also discussed its remaining workload and planned to clear the rest of its calendar the following week.

Transcript Highlights:

• Report of the Committee: The Committee on Public Service to whom was referred the petition accompanied
• Papers from the House: Several petitions come from the House under the suspension of Joint Rule 12 and

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, recognized several guests in the chamber, and adopted a resolution congratulating Coleman-Nee on election as National Commander of the Disabled American Veterans. It also took up several local and personnel matters, including a sick leave bank for Emily Cullick and later Paul Stavarski, and local bills affecting the town of Weston and a Dorchester housing/library procurement exemption; those measures were advanced to third reading or engrossment as appropriate. The chamber also suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committees. The main business was Senate No. 2516, the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act, which came before the Senate on a Ways and Means substitute (Senate Document 2608). Senators Creem, Moore, Charles, Feingold, Keenan, and others spoke in support, describing the bill as a comprehensive consumer privacy measure with data minimization rules, limits on sensitive data, protections for minors, and strong Attorney General enforcement. Several amendments were debated, with many rejected or withdrawn, while some were adopted, including provisions on geolocation data protections, opting out of targeted advertising, affiliate and merger/acquisition protections, internal operations exemptions, parental access to child data, and a Ways and Means amendment. A number of other amendments on employee data, union data, loyalty programs, AI training, reporting, and related issues were either not adopted or held/withdrawn. After the amendment process, the Senate adopted the amended Ways and Means substitute and ordered the bill to a third reading. The bill was then passed to be engrossed on a roll call vote of 40-0. The Senate also adopted an order to adjourn to the following Monday at 11:00 a.m. and to dispense with printing a calendar. The session adjourned in memory of Darrow Logan Alexander of South Boston.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today the committee will be hearing matters relating to automobiles, local alcohol petitions, The committee
• will be hearing matters relating to automobiles, local alcohol petitions, and other matters.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure heard testimony on a wide range of bills involving consumer protection, auto regulation, alcohol licenses, and professional licensure. A major focus was legislation to require a one-hour domestic violence awareness training for salon and cosmetology licensees (H.323/S.200), supported by District Attorney Marion Ryan, law enforcement, and a salon industry witness who described the program’s value in identifying and helping victims. The committee also heard strong support from the Attorney General’s office for auto consumer protection legislation (S.228/H.379) that would expand used-car warranty protections, extend the Lemon Law return period to seven days after receipt of the vehicle, raise the mileage cap to 200,000 miles, and increase dealer surety bonds to $50,000. Independent dealers opposed those changes, arguing they would burden small businesses and that dealer education, not expanded liability, was the better solution. The committee also took testimony on bills related to vehicle financial products and repair information. A trade association supported GAP waiver legislation (H.4188/S.281), saying it would create clear consumer protections and standard disclosures. On right-to-repair and heavy-duty vehicle service information (S.266), engine and truck manufacturers supported an exemption for commercial vehicles, while others argued that releasing service data to the general public could create safety, cybersecurity, and emissions risks. The committee then heard extensive testimony on auto dealer franchise and warranty reimbursement legislation (S.201/H.406), with dealer groups supporting changes to warranty labor reimbursement and manufacturer groups opposing them as costly and unnecessary. Manufacturers from GM, Volvo, Toyota, Hyundai, Mazda, and others said their current time-study and appeals processes already compensate dealers fairly and that the bill would raise costs for consumers. In addition, the committee heard testimony on H.333, which would move auto damage appraiser licensing from the Division of Insurance to the Division of Occupational Licensure. Collision repair advocates supported the change, saying the current board structure leads to repeated dismissals of complaints and lacks accountability, while emphasizing that the bill is intended to protect consumers and ensure proper repair reimbursement. The hearing also included testimony in support of a local alcohol license petition for Westwood and a separate local alcohol measure for a town grant license. At the end of the hearing, the chairs announced that all docketed bills had been heard, noted that a joint poll would be held on H.4184, and the committee voted to adjourn by voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• SB 1285 allows justice-impacted youth the opportunity to petition for dismissal of their records and
• 1285 clarifies and codifies that WIC Section 782 is a general dismissal statute and ensures that a petition

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, offered prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then moved through privileges of the floor recognizing Fresno State Ag Leadership Development Program students and members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. The body also approved the Senate journals and took up several gubernatorial appointments, including confirmations to the Court Reporters Board and the California Law Revision Commission, each approved by roll call vote. The chamber then considered SCR 136 marking the 50th anniversaries of the California Coastal Act, Coastal Commission, and Coastal Conservancy. Supporters emphasized coastal access, habitat protection, public trails, and resilience, while one senator argued the commission can overrule local control and slow development. The resolution passed 27-4. The Senate also adopted SR 68 for Denim Day and Sexual Assault Awareness Month, with broad support focused on survivor advocacy and accountability, and SCR 130 recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month, which passed unanimously. Several bills were then approved on unanimous roll call, including SB 1058 on school nutrition procurement, SB 930 on encryption for school exam proctoring, SB 917 on winery sales at farmers’ markets, SB 1002 on continuity of out-of-state telehealth care, SB 1036 on mitigation fee credits for redevelopment, SB 1285 on juvenile record dismissals, and SB 969 on remote developmental services. Later, SCR 131 called for an urgent, coordinated response to unsheltered homelessness, emphasizing interim shelter, permanent housing, and supportive services. Supporters said the state must stop normalizing encampments and better coordinate resources; one senator objected that the resolution did not sufficiently address self-sufficiency or alternatives to housing-first approaches. The resolution passed 34-0. The Senate also adopted SCR 157 honoring school bus drivers, approved the consent calendar, heard committee announcements, and adjourned in memory of Sandy Steers, a conservation advocate and longtime executive director of Friends of Big Bear Valley.

Transcript Highlights:

• And if a petition is denied, there's a right to appeal that decision to the Clemency Board itself, so
• And if a petition is denied, there's a right to appeal that decision to the Clemency Board itself, so

Keywords: 1187, senate, all