Transcript Highlights:

• On page 95 of the budget bill and 61 of the SR, JAC approved the annual subscription for software and
• On page 95 of the budget bill and 61 of the SR, JAC approved the annual subscription for software and
• On page 95 of the budget bill and 61 of the SR, JAC approved the annual subscription for software and
• On page 95 of the budget bill and 61 of the SR, JAC approved the annual subscription for software and
• </c> 95 of the budget bill and 61 of the SR. 95 of the budget bill and 61 of the SR.

Transcript Highlights:

• million</c> about 61 million over $61 million about 61 million over $61 million invested<00:29:08.720
• I'd like to suspend the rules and take up items 36 through 61 in block. >> 36 through 61 in block.
• Sir, I believe we only went to 61 in the block. >> We only went to 61, Mr.
• </c> to 61 in the block. to 61 in the block.
• </c> &gt;&gt; We only went to 61, Mr. Clerk. &gt;&gt; We only went to 61, Mr. Clerk. &gt;&gt; Okay.

Transcript Highlights:

• I respectfully withdraw amendment 61.
• Speaker, um, I move House amendment 61 to budget number one.
• ,</c> for consideration, amendment number 61, for consideration, amendment number 61, Representative<
• There's 62, 61 of us, or maybe even 60 of us today.
• There's 62 61 intelligent on this floor.

Transcript Highlights:

• deadline, for any floor amendments delivered to the Chief Clerk's desk office by August 21, Joint Rule 61
• Ayes 61, noes 0. The measure passes.
• Ayes 61, noes 0. The measure passes. We'll pass and retain on item 251.
• Ayes 61, noes 1. Senate amendments are concurred in. We will pass and retain on item 24.

Summary: The Assembly convened, established a quorum after a roll call, and opened with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Members then handled a series of procedural motions, including suspending rules for guest seating and adjournment speeches, re-referring and returning several bills, and approving a motion to waive the floor-amendment deadline. The chamber also welcomed Los Angeles City Council Member Katie Yaroslavsky and staff as guests. The bulk of the session was devoted to third-reading votes on Senate bills and concurrence votes on Assembly bills. Measures discussed included child custody protections for sexual assault survivors (SB 1364), tribal access to short-term rental tax information (SB 594), ADU impact fee clarification (SB 1117), protections against threats to local and election officials (SB 239), escrow consumer protections (SB 946), environmental and local government measures such as SB 949 and SB 226, tax and budget-related bills including SB 1073, SB 1349, and SB 661, health and education bills such as SB 1150, SB 1191, SB 1328, SB 874, SB 1049, and SB 1186, and labor/employment and housing-related measures including SB 1059, SB 1166, and SB 1093. Most measures passed with strong bipartisan support; SB 1191 required an urgency vote and passed, and SB 1418 also passed as an urgency measure after the call was lifted. The Assembly also concurred in numerous Senate amendments to Assembly bills, including AB 1894, AB 871, AB 1201, AB 1359, AB 1579, AB 1684, AB 1711, AB 1722, AB 1784, AB 1809, AB 1837, AB 1860, AB 1864, AB 1999, AB 2116, AB 2143, AB 2186, AB 2233, AB 2249, AB 2255, AB 2418, AB 2576, AB 2634, AB 2660, AB 2766, and AB 2780. The chamber also adopted House Resolution 137 recognizing Diwali, with several members speaking in support of the holiday and its cultural significance. The session concluded with adjournment in memory speeches honoring Jeremiah Jerry Francis Hollisey, Maisie Jean Hastings, and Clint Riley, followed by announcements about the Rules Committee meeting, the floor-amendment deadline, and the next floor session on Monday, August 24.

Transcript Highlights:

• deadline, for any floor amendments delivered to the Chief Clerk's desk office by August 21, Joint Rule 61
• Ayes 61, noes 0. The measure passes.
• Ayes 61, noes 0. The measure passes. We'll pass and retain on item 251.
• Ayes 61, noes 1. Senate amendments are concurred in. We will pass and retain on item 24.

Transcript Highlights:

• She was a celebrated member of the Hingham community for 61 years and a treasure at the town's senior
• Phyllis was a celebrated member of the Hingham community for 61 years and a treasure at the town's senior

Summary: The Senate convened on February 19, 2006, with a Pledge of Allegiance and remarks noting the Commonwealth’s observance of Iwo Jima Day. The chamber also adopted a congratulatory resolution for Elizabeth Beth Renaud on her retirement from public service to the city of Salem. Members then acted on several local and procedural matters. House Bill 4272, authorizing Hudson to grant one additional off-premises wine and malt beverages license, was ordered to a third reading and then passed to be engrossed. The Senate also adopted orders extending committee reporting deadlines for the Environment and Natural Resources and Agriculture Committee and the Transportation Committee, and suspended Joint Rule 12 to refer several House petitions to committees. Later, the Senate passed to enact House Bills 3977 and 4438, concerning alternate members for Beckett’s Conservation Commission and a fall annual town meeting in Swampscott. The chamber also adopted an order placing House Bill 4769, the “build resilient infrastructure to generate higher-ed transformation” bill, on the Orders of the Day for immediate second reading with Ways and Means text as the amendment. Another petition, filed by Senator Brownsberger and others regarding violations of the U.S. Constitution under cover of law, was referred to the Judiciary Committee after suspension of the necessary rules. The Senate concluded with an order to adjourn until the following Monday at 11 a.m. and a motion to adjourn in memory of Phyllis Chapman of Hingham, followed by a moment of silence. The motion prevailed and the Senate adjourned in her memory.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chapter 61 offers landowners a tax break for land that has a public benefit, be that forestry, agriculture
• This bill would affect the Chapter 61 program by making it possible to operate at a different scale.
• H. 3161 seeks to take the same uses and principles of Chapter 61 and apply them at a different scale.
• The draft bill seeks to address applying Chapter 61 to smaller lots and goes into all the different details
• I believe that a Chapter 61 urban would make it possible to address that.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Revenue

Summary: The hearing opened with remarks from the co-chairs explaining committee procedures, testimony limits, submission instructions, and the new deadlines for acting on House and Senate bills. The committee then heard testimony on several bills related to agriculture, land use, environment, housing, transportation, and taxation, with legislators often taken out of turn. No votes were taken during the hearing. The first major topic was H. 3206, a bill to allow fossil fuel-free 529 college savings plans to qualify for the state tax deduction if MEFA does not offer a comparable option. Representative Steve Owens said the bill would not force MEFA or Fidelity to change existing plans, but would create a definition for fossil fuel-free funds and extend the deduction to qualifying out-of-state plans. The committee also heard strong local testimony on a Belmont home-rule petition, H. 3970, to change tax treatment for the Belmont Country Club under Chapter 61B. Belmont residents and officials argued the private golf course receives an unfair tax break that shifts costs to other taxpayers, while Senator Brownsberger and Representative Rogers supported the measure as a way to help the town recover revenue. Committee members asked about town meeting support, the club’s lack of payment in lieu of taxes, and the size of the tax savings. The committee next heard testimony on a vehicle miles traveled tax proposal, S. 1925, from Senator Barrett and economists Gilbert Metcalf and Christopher Knittel. They argued that declining gas-tax revenue and rising fuel efficiency, especially with electric vehicles, require a more stable transportation funding source; they also said a VMT tax could be designed to be revenue-neutral and mildly progressive, though members raised concerns about administration, fairness, EV disincentives, and the possibility of annual tax shocks. The largest block of testimony focused on the Ahead Act, H. 3194/S. 1973, which would double the deed excise fee and dedicate the new revenue to affordable housing and climate adaptation. Supporters from MACDC, MAPC, FICC, Boston Climate Action Network, CLF, 350 Mass, CHAPA, and a tenant advocate said the bill could generate about $300 million annually for housing production, vouchers, weatherization, resilience, and environmental justice communities, and that it links two urgent crises with a stable funding stream. The committee also heard testimony on the Conservation Land Tax Credit bills, H. 3147/S. 2083, which would raise the annual cap on the credit from $2 million to $5 million for three years and then sunset back down. Conservation groups and a landowner said the program has conserved thousands of acres and that the higher cap would reduce delays and help meet state conservation goals. Finally, the committee took testimony on the Fairness for Farm Workers bills, S. 2011/H. 3107 and S. 2012, which would extend overtime, minimum wage, breaks, and paid time off protections to farm workers and include a refundable tax credit to help farmers offset overtime costs. Senator Gomez and advocates described the bills as overdue civil rights and public health measures, citing low wages, long hours, dangerous conditions, and the racial history behind farm labor exclusions. The hearing also included testimony on H. 3240, a bill to give municipalities a local option vacancy tax on chronically vacant shopping malls, with the sponsor arguing it would help towns address blight, encourage redevelopment, and potentially create housing and tax revenue.

Transcript Highlights:

• 001 and 321-001; HGH 760, sequence 60-001; HGH 840, sequences 62-001 and 102-00001; HGH 849, sequence 61
• 001 and 321-001; HGH 760, sequence 60-001; HGH 840, sequences 62-001 and 102-00001; HGH 849, sequence 61
• 001 and 321-001; HGH 760, sequence 60-001; HGH 840, sequences 62-001 and 102-00001; HGH 849, sequence 61
• HGH849<00:39:26.480><c> sequence</c><00:39:27.359><c> uh</c> HGH849 sequence uh HGH849 sequence uh 61
• -001<00:39:29.920><c> and</c> 61-001 and 61-001 and HCH907<00:39:32.240><c> sequences</c><00:39:33.240

Transcript Highlights:

• Jerry Holman, Harris County Freshwater Supply District 61. Thank you for having me here today.
• District 61 and also Harris County Municipal Utility District 248, which we operate in our particular
• Somebody else came in as MUD 61, so we just kept our Freshwater Supply District. We do have a CC.
• we've since changed to a MUD with all the powers of a MUD, but kept the Freshwater Supply District 61
• MUD 61 that had been established. But you still are a Freshwater Supply District?

Bills: SB434 , SB844 , SB898 , SB1177 , SB1214 , SB1454 , SB1920 , SB1927 , SB1935 , SB1965 , SB2010 , SB2046 , SB2068 , SB2073 , SB2183 , SB2260 , SB3034 , SB907

Committee: Senate Local Government

Transcript Highlights:

• The next bill on our agenda is Senate File 61. Senator Wesley, welcome to the committee once again.
• We respectfully request your support for Senate File 61.
• </c><00:21:35.960><c> I'll</c> your support for Senate file 61 I'll your support for Senate file 61 I'll
• Senate File 61 is laid over for consideration in the tax bill.
• Senate File 61 is laid over for consideration in the tax bill.

Committee: Senate Taxes

Transcript Highlights:

• Solid waste districts consume 61% of all tipping fees collected statewide, which is actually up from
• more comprehensive plan next year, finding an alternate funding structure and returning them to the 61%
• When you start off with the initial 61% that goes to the districts, there's $850,000 that's taken off

Committee: House Emerging Issues and Professional Registration

Summary: The committee met to hear Senate Bill 1586, sponsored by Senator Ben Brown, which would address abandoned, ownerless landfills in Missouri. Brown described a constituent’s experience with contamination near an old landfill in Franklin County and said the bill was intended to give the Department of Natural Resources clearer authority to investigate and remediate such sites, create a funding stream by redirecting 10% of solid waste tipping fees, establish an interim committee for further study, and tighten seller disclosure requirements for properties with abandoned landfills. He argued the state has 29 such sites, that the issue has been ignored for decades, and that environmental studies are the necessary first step before cleanup and possible grant applications. Support came from University of Missouri engineering dean Marisa Grosoccoe, who said the bill would provide the regulatory framework and stable funding needed to move forward, noting that even about $1 million annually would likely fund only a few studies per year but would reduce uncertainty and help identify cleanup costs and future land use options. She emphasized that studies can unlock additional funding and eventual redevelopment benefits. In opposition, Solid Waste Advisory Board chair Chris Bussin and Mark Solid Waste District program manager Diana Bryant argued the districts already perform important recycling and household hazardous waste work, that the proposed diversion of tipping fees would significantly reduce local program funding, and that DNR already has authority to address landfill issues. They also questioned the accuracy of the abandoned landfill list and warned that cuts could harm existing services. A county commissioner testifying for information purposes echoed concerns about impacts on small communities and local grant-funded recycling programs. No vote was taken, and the hearing was closed after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• In fact, all of the governor functions from point four all the way over to page three, I believe, 61,
• line 61, they have been removed because Line 61, they have been removed because, again, it was a specific

Committee: House Elementary and Secondary Education

Summary: The Committee on Elementary and Secondary Education met in executive session and public hearing, with a quorum present. It first voted House Bill 1767, described as the educator and parent bill of rights combination bill, due pass by a 14-1 vote with one present. The committee then considered House Bill 2918, which was amended by a substitute focused on defining school-sponsored media as a news source and distinguishing news from commentary or editorial content; the sponsor said the changes were intended to promote balanced, truth-in-labeling journalism and to protect only bona fide news sources. The substitute was adopted, and the House Committee Substitute for HB 2918 passed 11-3 with three present. The committee also voted House Bill 2304 due pass by a 10-4 vote with three present, though the transcript does not describe the bill’s subject. The committee then moved out of executive session and heard House Bill 2772, sponsored by Representative Melissa Douglas, which would create a postsecondary McKinney-Vento-style liaison for students experiencing homelessness. Douglas said the bill would help students transition from K-12 homelessness supports into higher education by giving them a designated point of contact in financial aid, and she noted that a substitute would remove earlier appointment and donation provisions and leave implementation to higher education institutions. Committee members asked about the liaison’s qualifications, duties, staffing, and fiscal impact, and Douglas said the substitute removed the most controversial appointment requirements and was intended to be a zero-fiscal-note approach. Supporters testified that the bill would improve coordination and help homeless and foster students persist in postsecondary education. An opponent argued the proposal duplicated existing services, would be costly, and was unnecessary given current state, federal, and nonprofit supports. No vote was taken on HB 2772 before the hearing ended and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the elderly citizen side you think about the elderly and<00:08:08.639><c> I'm</c><00:08:08.960><c> 61
• <c> um</c><00:08:11.479><c> their</c><00:08:12.120><c> the</c><00:08:12.280><c> grandma</c> and I'm 61
• soon um their the grandma and I'm 61 soon um their the grandma scan<00:08:13.120><c> Ransom</c><00:08

Transcript Highlights:

• On issues 6, 7, 9, 14, 15, 17, 23, 24, 26, 29, 30, 33, 39, 52, and 61. Do I have a motion?
• And 61. Do I have a motion? I'll move it. Thank you, Senator McNerney.

Transcript Highlights:

• There have been 61 ayes and zero nays. The bill is passed and its title agreed to.
• There have been 61 ayes and zero nays. The bill is passed and its title agreed to.
• There have been 61 eyes's and zero role.
• </c> There have been 61 eyes's and zero nazs. There have been 61 eyes's and zero nazs.
• There have been 61 eyes and zero role.

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a bill for Highway 61, which I would be shocked if you haven't traveled on Highway 61 through the
• Uh Highway<00:26:58.080><c> 61</c><00:26:58.559><c> is</c><00:26:58.720><c> the</c><00:26:58.880><c>
• It’s a $61 million project. We’ve spent $36.5 million so far, so we’re 60% complete.
• Um it's a $61<00:36:23.440><c> million</c><00:36:24.079><c> project.
• We've spent 36 uh.5 $61 million project.

Bills: HF2080 , HF356 , HF1968 , HF228 , HF569 , HF603 , HF692 , HF1455 , HF2224 , HF1361

Committee: House Capital Investment

Transcript Highlights:

• But more specifically, my district starts on Highway 61, the popular Highway 61.
• At uh I think one of the folk songs say Highway 61. Uh, Bob D—yes, it's different Highway 61.
• 61 the popular Highway<00:02:41.159><c> 61</c><00:02:41.720><c> at</c><00:02:42.080><c> uh</c><00:02
• <00:02:45.879><c> Highway</c> song say Highway song say Highway 61 61 61 uh<00:02:49.360><c> Bob</c><
• </c> uh Bob D yes it's different Highway 61 uh Bob D yes it's different Highway 61 but<00:02:52.360><

Committee: Senate Transportation

Transcript Highlights:

• All right. 61. Uh, your bill receives a favorable report.
• All right. 61. Uh, your bill receives a favorable report.
• All right. 61. Uh, your bill receives a favorable report.
• All right. 61. Uh, your bill receives a favorable report.

Bills: SB249 , SB259 , HB67 , HB214 , SB249 , SB259 , HB67 , HB214

Committee: Senate County and Municipal Government

Keywords: municipal tax, license fee, local tax increase, ordinance, public hearing, 30-day notice, municipal notice requirements, city council, town council, Alabama municipalities, Code of Alabama 1975, Section 11-45-2, open meetings website, newspaper publication, local government finance, tax transparency, fee increase, municipal ordinance procedure, University of South Alabama, Board of Trustees

Transcript Highlights:

• [applause] Quinton being 15 years old, 61. He's a student at Lla High School.
• Quinton being 15 Quinton being a uh Quinton being 15 years<00:27:09.840><c> old,</c><00:27:10.240><c> 61
• ><c> a</c><00:27:11.520><c> student</c><00:27:11.679><c> at</c><00:27:12.000><c> Lla</c> years old, 61
• He's a student at Lla years old, 61. He's a student at Lla High<00:27:12.799><c> School.

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2024, auto insurance rates in Minnesota were projected to jump by 61%, making this the biggest increase
• /c><00:03:04.319><c> by</c> Minnesota were projected to Jump by Minnesota were projected to Jump by 61%
• 07.080><c> the</c><00:03:07.319><c> biggest</c><00:03:07.840><c> increase</c><00:03:08.360><c> in</c> 61%
• making this the biggest increase in 61% making this the biggest increase in the<00:03:08.720><c> country