Transcript Highlights:

• They needed to see where the money was coming from before they spent it.
• They needed to see where the money was coming from before they spent it.
• They needed to see where the money was coming from before they spent it.
• I think we spent enough time. hearing. I think we spent enough time. Thank<01:00:24.079><c> you.
• </c><01:22:37.040><c> down</c> care providers that have spent down care providers that have spent down

Committee: Senate Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• the community members who elect them and vote to approve those... $4 million the state has already spent
• $4 million the state has already spent in<01:42:28.320><c> its</c><01:42:28.560><c> failed</c><01:42
• I spent my last term as chairman of the municipal and county government, and I worked closely with them
• I spent my last term as chairman of the municipal and county government, and I worked closely with them
• on lobbying almost always exceeds spent on lobbying almost always exceeds the<05:08:17.520><c> dollar

Transcript Highlights:

• The 2023 report showed that $20.4 million was spent by visitors, and this isn't in a big city.
• The 2023 report showed that $20.4 million was spent by visitors, and this isn't in a big city.
• The 2023 report showed that $20.4 million was spent by visitors, and this isn't in a big city.
• The 2023 report showed that $20.4 million was spent by visitors, and this isn't in a big city.
• That $20.4 million was spent by visitors, and this isn't in a big city.

Committee: Senate Environment, Climate, and Legacy

Transcript Highlights:

• Millions is spent in this state to mitigate terrestrial invasive species.
• and spent just over 1.25 million so in and spent just over 1.25 million so in in<01:00:01.640><c> that
• Democrats got full control, and they spent that down and then they raised taxes on top of it.
• Democrats got full control, and they spent that down and then they raised taxes on top of it.
• Democrats got full control, and they spent that down and then they raised taxes on top of it.

Committee: Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development

Transcript Highlights:

• But yes, if we found a case where we felt like state taxpayer funds were fraudulently spent, we would
• So, in a sense, I just spent $500 extra dollars for something that wasn't necessarily necessary.
• You don't really know what they spent the money on. It could be a football. It could be a flagpole.
• You don't really know what they spent the money on. It could be a football. It could be a flagpole.
• You need to make sure the money is spent wisely and for the education.

Committee: All ALC-ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

Transcript Highlights:

• You have much larger issues, but I can tell you I have spent more time on this program than I have on
• So just like we spent one-time investment. Yes, it's a one-time investment.
• So just like we spent $1.2 billion, and that was sort of not ongoing, now we have another $40 million
• So just like we spent $1.2 billion, and that was sort of not ongoing, now we have another $40 million
• But given the fact that we don't have a lot of resources, I think it would be better spent on getting

Transcript Highlights:

• She has spent time before becoming a judge doing program work and family court.
• In Phoenix, so spent some time in the Valley.
• She has spent time before becoming a judge doing program work and family court.
• We've spent time with young people to ask them about their experiences.
• So I spent a whole lot of time writing this big, long speech of what I was going to stand up here I spent

Committee: House House Government Committee of Reference

Summary: The Committee on Government met for a presentation-only hearing focused on the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) and related child welfare system issues; no bills were heard or voted on. Chair Blackman opened by stressing that the hearing was for fact-finding and data, not personal attacks, and Director Catherine Patak then presented DCS data on hotline volume, investigations, reunifications, adoptions, guardianships, extended foster care, and placement patterns. She said DCS investigated more than 43,000 cases in 2025, kept the out-of-home population relatively steady, and emphasized that Arizona places a high share of children with kin. She also highlighted a mismatch between the age of children entering care and the availability of foster homes willing to take older youth, and said behavioral health capacity, not DCS alone, is a major constraint. Patak discussed kinship supports, foster care reimbursement increases, the Family First Prevention Services Act, missing youth, congregate care reduction, and the department’s procurement process for group home beds. Members asked about kinship caregiver support, behavioral health access, reunification services, parental-rights terminations, Auditor General findings on notices and documentation, licensing and reimbursement rates, and why some relatives are not approved as placements. Patak said DCS is working on policy guidance, supervisor training, and improved supports, but that provider capacity and other system partners limit what DCS can do. Representative Gillette then gave a lengthy presentation focused on system design, procurement, funding flows, and congregate care. He argued that DCS, DES, and Access are structurally intertwined, that DCS’s procurement carve-out and capitated funding model create incentives tied to bed space and volume, and that fragmented oversight diffuses accountability. He cited budget figures, contract amendments, and audit concerns to argue that the system is overreliant on congregate care and that decision-making, medical referrals, and placement processes are too vague or too centralized in ways that can harm children and families. Gillette said his findings were based on contracts, interviews, and public records, and he indicated some material would be referred to special counsel. He also raised concerns about placement decisions, due process, and demographic disparities in congregate care outcomes. The chair cut off further questioning of Gillette for time and announced the committee would move on to the next presenter, Vice Chair Fink, with attorneys and other speakers to follow.

Transcript Highlights:

• I spent my time on the county commission renourishing beaches, and it was an important issue for me to
• I happened to see an article that a school teacher spent $800 on a hotel room in Tampa when they were
• Last year, we spent just under $300 million for acquisition.
• Last year, we spent just under $300 million for acquisition.
• Last year, we spent just under $300 million for acquisition.

Summary: The committee met with a quorum and took up a long agenda of bills, many of them amended. Early action included PCS for CS for HB 639, which would expand an existing Fraternal Order of Police specialty license plate to all Floridians, tighten specialty plate rules for future applicants, require financial projections and reporting, and create several new specialty plates. After questions about Florida nexus requirements and a successful amendment adding a Florida Film Legacy plate, the bill was reported favorably 26-0. PCS for CS for HB 1169, limiting local governments’ use of excess building-code enforcement funds for construction of the code-enforcement building, also passed unanimously after testimony from the Florida Home Builders Association. The committee then approved HB 139, expanding whistleblower protections for state, local, and contract employees who file ethics complaints, with support from the Florida Commission on Ethics. PCS for HB 273, which would make special districts eligible for certain state and federal grants and direct pay options, passed 24-1 after testimony from both supporters and opponents. Members also approved CS for HB 1087, a public-records exemption for certain stablecoin issuer information, and CS for HB 1085, updating the local government cybersecurity grant program by moving it to Cyber Florida at USF, adding a sunset, and limiting consecutive awards. Several environmental and local-government transparency measures drew extended debate. CS for CS for HB 1417, a broad environmental bill, was amended to remove several provisions, retain others on the Environmental Regulation Commission, springs, solar facilities, Indian River Lagoon septic deadlines, and coastal resiliency partnerships, and then passed 24-0 amid mixed testimony from DEP, water management districts, and environmental advocates. CS for HB 1457, creating a framework for regional stormwater management systems and water quality enhancement areas, passed 24-0 after discussion of port impacts. CS for HB 1329, requiring local budgets to be posted earlier, retained longer, and made searchable, and adding a 10% budget-cutting exercise, passed 17-6 after strong opposition from local-government groups who argued it would be costly and duplicative. The committee also approved CS for HB 4091 creating a special district for stormwater and flood control in Sarasota and Manatee counties, and then took up CS for HB 995, a major overhaul of Public Employees Relations Commission and union-related procedures, including registration, dues disclosure, election rules, leave-time limits, and expedited bargaining over legislatively appropriated salary increases; that bill was still under questioning when the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• more than we had on education, and they spent it everywhere.
• > in education trust fund when they'd in education trust fund when they'd already<00:16:10.199><c> spent
• more than we had on already spent more than we had on education<00:16:12.920><c> and</c><00:16:13.279
• and they spent it everywhere education and they spent it everywhere they<00:16:14.959><c> couldn't</
• , I just want to state on the record that this change does not change by any dollar amount that we spent

Summary: The House Finance Division II work session considered several amendments to HB 2. The first two items were rejected: a proposal to add a new “Lakes” license plate with proceeds to the cyanobacteria fund failed 7-8, and Amendment 1040, which would have imposed a 5% administrative fee on certain dedicated funds to raise general fund revenue, failed 4-5. Representative Maguire explained the fee would apply only to new revenue going forward and would not change existing fund balances; he also described exemptions for federal funds, bequests, and other special cases. Representative Murray questioned the consistency of the approach and who currently pays administrative costs, while Maguire said the charges are often handled case-by-case by agencies or the treasurer. The committee then revisited revenue distribution changes in HB 2. Members first reconsidered and reversed prior acceptance of sections affecting the Education Trust Fund, then adopted Amendment 1381H, which changes the distribution of business profits tax and business enterprise tax revenue, along with related sections, to shift more money to the General Fund. Supporters argued the change was needed to address revenue shortfalls and to align with historical distributions; opponents said it reduced support for education. The reconsideration motion passed 7-3, and the amendment itself passed 5-3. The committee also adopted Amendment 1413H, incorporating the language of HB 741 on open enrollment and student attendance in public schools. Supporters said it was House policy and had sufficient policy and fiscal impact to belong in HB 2; opponents noted the underlying bill had been controversial and passed the House by a relatively close margin. Finally, the committee considered a USNH budget reduction proposal that would cut the University System of New Hampshire by $25 million per year net. Supporters said the cut was necessary to balance the budget and that K-12 obligations had to take priority, while opponents argued the cut would harm workforce development, the state economy, and student retention. The transcript cuts off during extended debate, and no final vote on the USNH item is shown in the provided text.

Transcript Highlights:

• Actually, I've spent a little bit of time in preparation for this hearing looking into the detail of
• Actually,<04:23:39.840><c> I've</c><04:23:40.080><c> spent</c><04:23:40.319><c> a</c><04:23:40.560><c
• </c><05:25:30.320><c> were</c> the EFA program was being spent were the EFA program was being spent were
• ><c> in</c><05:25:57.680><c> the</c> reports on how they had spent in the reports on how they had spent
• :43:51.440><c> the</c><05:43:51.520><c> the</c> just spent yesterday with the the just spent yesterday

Committee: House Education Policy and Administration

Transcript Highlights:

• I have sat on the benches at the bus stop, so spent a fair amount of time down there.
• I spent until 2 o'clock in the morning walking around where one of these sites was in Montreal, stood
• I have heard in the past, and actually I lost a nephew who had spent quite some time in jail and was
• every year. $4.35 saved for every dollar spent every year.
• I spent a significant amount of time at their MSR, which is a medically supervised injection, I spent

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery

Summary: The Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use, and Recovery held a public hearing on several harm reduction bills, including measures to decriminalize simple possession and paraphernalia, authorize overdose prevention centers, and expand access to naloxone for first responders. Chair Mindy Domb and Senator John Velis opened by describing harm reduction as an evidence-based public health strategy and noting Massachusetts’ recent decline in fatal overdoses. They emphasized that testimony would help shape whether and how the bills advance, and explained the hearing process, including time limits and written testimony. Testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including Rep. Kate Donaghue, Sen. Cindy Friedman, Rep. Marjorie Decker, Rep. Manny Cruz, public health professionals, recovery advocates, and people with lived experience, argued that harm reduction saves lives, reduces stigma, and can connect people to treatment. They supported overdose prevention centers and decriminalization as tools to keep people alive long enough to enter recovery, and several speakers described personal losses to overdose or family experiences with addiction. Some supporters also framed the bills as racial justice measures, arguing that criminal penalties for possession have disproportionately harmed Black and brown communities. Opponents, including Sen. Nick Collins and several South End residents, argued that overdose prevention centers and decriminalization would worsen public drug use, crime, and neighborhood disorder, especially around Mass and Cass. They said current approaches such as Section 35, diversion, and police leverage into treatment are more effective, and they urged more treatment beds and recovery facilities instead of harm reduction sites. Committee members questioned witnesses about research, local siting, crime data, and the relationship between harm reduction and treatment, and several members said neighborhood impacts must be considered alongside overdose prevention. The committee did not take a vote during the hearing; it continued receiving testimony and announced a later break before resuming on H. 2196 and S. 1393.

Transcript Highlights:

• Have you spent the entire amount of money that this legislature approved?
• You've spent so far—can you clarify that? Can you give the context?
• We're trying to get more money, and so you're saying, hey, we haven't spent the five.
• Not hearing you saying you're not spent what we've sent.
• Not hearing you saying you're not spent what we've sent. Can you walk us through please?

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The hearing was a FY27 budget session on Health and Human Services held in Mattapan, hosted by the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Opening remarks from Senator Lydia Edwards, Representative Brandy Fluker-Reed, Representative Russell Holmes, and Boston Public Library President David Leonard emphasized the significance of holding the first Ways and Means hearing in Mattapan, the importance of community access, and the role of libraries as human services institutions. Committee members and attendees introduced themselves before agency testimony began. MassAbility testified first, describing its mission to support people with disabilities through employment, independent living, and disability determination services. The agency highlighted federal funding uncertainty, a modest FY27 budget reduction, and a proposed reworking of its home care program, which it said is outdated and should better target those most in need. Members questioned the home care cut, staffing reductions, and federal coordination. MassAbility also shared a participant story about recovery and community support to illustrate the impact of its services. The Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing then presented its FY27 request, focusing on interpreter and captioning access, workforce development, emergency communication, aging-related hearing loss, and transition services for deaf and hard-of-hearing youth. Members asked about interpreter shortages, after-hours emergency coverage, ASL education, and community training; the commission said it is expanding mentorship and referral systems but still faces staffing and vendor challenges. The Massachusetts Commission for the Blind followed with a $30.8 million request, describing services for nearly 9,000 consumers, peer support groups, vocational rehabilitation, and Turning 22 services, while noting federal funding uncertainty and a 7% budget cut. Members raised concerns about maintaining services with fewer resources, and the commissioner said the agency had trimmed overhead and could manage the proposal. The Office for Refugees and Immigrants closed the segment, outlining expanded legal, housing, workforce, citizenship, and financial literacy supports for immigrants and refugees, including Know Your Rights trainings, legal defense initiatives, and the Massachusetts Access to Counsel Initiative. Members discussed the effects of federal policy changes, the loss of refugee resettlement funding, and the need for state support to fill gaps. No votes were taken in the portion provided; the hearing consisted of agency presentations and committee questioning.

Transcript Highlights:

• Without these nurses, he would be back in the hospital, where he spent the first 15 months of his life
• Have watched the way the funds in this bill have been spent, and it has bothered me ever since.
• I spent years working on program integrity and have spent years confronting fraud, demanding accountability
• I spent years working on program integrity and have spent years confronting fraud, demanding accountability
• I spent years working on program integrity and have spent years confronting fraud, demanding accountability

Transcript Highlights:

• Have you spent the entire amount of money that this legislature approved?
• You've spent so far—can you clarify that? Can you give the context?
• And can you provide context for those $1.5 million that you've spent?
• Not hearing you saying you're not spent what we've sent.
• Not hearing you saying you're not spent what we've sent.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• It's one that how would I have known if you wouldn't have spent the time?
• We spent the whole day.
• as we direct it to be spent.
• as we direct it to be spent.
• As we direct it to be spent. And I want to thank you for the amendment.

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum, opening prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, page introductions, and recognition of guests, including a state champion Crossroads Academy basketball team and a student intern. The chamber then took up executive appointment reports from the Ethics and Elections Committee and related committees, which covered a large slate of gubernatorial appointees to state boards and commissions. Senators were given the opportunity to separate nominees for individual votes, and several members spoke in support of or opposition to specific appointees based on qualifications, ideology, and prior public service. The first major confirmation vote covered most of the 186 appointments on the report, with debate centered on three nominees highlighted by Senator Polsky: Ilya Shapiro, Thomas Zachary Smith, and Dr. John Lattell. The report was adopted 31-0 after those objections, and Jeffrey Aaron was then considered separately for the Public Employee Relations Commission. Senators Smith and Polsky opposed Aaron’s confirmation, citing his role as legal counsel to the Hope Florida Foundation and alleged involvement in the transfer of Medicaid settlement funds to political entities; Chair Gates defended Aaron as a lawyer representing a client and noted no disciplinary or law-enforcement action against him. Aaron was confirmed 26-10. The Senate next confirmed Chavon Harris as Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration after debate focused on her prior leadership at the Department of Children and Families, Medicaid redeterminations, postpartum coverage issues, Hope Florida-related concerns, and a women’s shelter inspection dispute. Supporters emphasized her work stabilizing Medicaid funding and her responsiveness to agency problems, while opponents argued she had overseen serious failures and lacked suitability. The confirmation passed 32-5. Taylor Hatch was then confirmed as Secretary of the Department of Children and Families after committee members noted serious operational concerns at DCF, including SNAP/EBT compliance, child welfare practices, forensic audit issues, and questions about Hope Florida, but also cited her commitment to child welfare and willingness to address problems; the vote was 33-4. After the confirmations, the Senate recessed and later returned for a lengthy tribute to outgoing Senate President Kathleen Pasadomo. Senators from both parties offered personal remarks praising her leadership, diligence, toughness in committee, mentorship, and resilience after personal loss, while also joking about her reputation as a strict rules chair and “bill killer.” The session concluded with the recognition of her service and presentation of a handmade keepsake box filled with letters and mementos from staff and colleagues.

Transcript Highlights:

• Now, I have spent<01:09:08.719><c> the</c><01:09:08.880><c> last</c><01:09:09.040><c> five</c><01:09:
• 09.279><c> years</c><01:09:09.520><c> studying</c><01:09:09.839><c> the</c> spent the last five years
• studying the spent the last five years studying the effects<01:09:10.400><c> of</c><01:09:10.560><c>
• Uh, multiple national studies are spent.
• on direct resident care, an spent on direct resident care, an essential<01:19:02.000><c> guardrail</

Bills: HF3668 , HF2779 , HF2771

Committee: House Health Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• In FY 23, it looks like we spent a little over $3 million.
• In FY 25, we spent a little over $2.5 million.
• But that was spent eight years ago. Well, great.
• And then, but the Fed and other was spent almost to zero.
• And then, but the Fed and other was spent almost to zero.

Committee: House Budget

Summary: The committee first heard the Secretary of State’s FY27 budget presentation. Secretary Denny Hoskins described his office’s work on business filings, elections administration, securities enforcement, archives, libraries, and Safe at Home, and said the office had cleaned up voter rolls by removing more than 200,000 ineligible voters. Members questioned him closely about deceased voters, voter registration through DMVs, information sharing with the federal government, and whether any personal identifying information would be released; Hoskins said only publicly available information had been shared and that PII would not be released absent a court order. He also said his office had 10 pending lawsuits handled by the Attorney General’s office, and discussed budget lapses, staffing levels, and the need to spend federal and other funds before general revenue when possible. A major portion of the discussion focused on election-related funding requests. Hoskins defended funding for ballot publication in newspapers, saying the constitution and state law require publication of statewide ballot measures and that the cost could rise sharply if many petitions or a referendum reach the ballot. Several members questioned whether the newspaper notices are still effective, while others emphasized that many Missourians still rely on print and that the requirement remains constitutional. The committee also discussed the technology services NDI tied to the sunset of the $5 business filing fee that funds IT operations, with Hoskins saying the office would need general revenue if the sunset is not extended. Other topics included absentee ballot postage reimbursement, election cost transfers, and the library networking fund, which Hoskins said has not historically been funded at the full 10 percent level. Members also raised broader budget and policy concerns, including the office’s FTE count, the restoration of some previously cut archives/local records positions, and the need for a new voter registration system and election-night reporting system. Some members pressed Hoskins on whether his budget requests were consistent with his past calls for smaller government, while he responded that election-year obligations, cybersecurity risks, and outdated systems require investment. The committee did not take a vote on the Secretary of State items during this segment. The committee then began the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education presentation from Commissioner Carla Eslinger. She outlined the FY27 request for the foundation formula, transportation, child care, literacy, educator workforce, and strategic planning. Eslinger said the formula increase is driven by policy changes such as enrollment-based funding and higher special education and virtual education costs; transportation needs a modest increase; child care needs general revenue to replace expiring federal funds; and literacy efforts continue to expand through science-of-reading training and state-approved assessments. She also highlighted through-year testing, grade-level descriptors, teacher recruitment and retention, and work with a new Transforming Schools group. The presentation was cut short when the committee recessed for floor activity, with no votes taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I spent five years on the Warren County School Board with these good people.
• I spent five years on the Warren County School Board with these good people.
• I spent five years on the Warren County School Board with these good people.
• I spent five years on the Warren County School Board with these good people.
• I spent five years on the Warren here.

Summary: The Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity met in September 2025, established a quorum, introduced new member Larry Forester, and approved the minutes from the August 26 meeting. The main presentation came from Warren County Public Schools Superintendent Rob Clayton and Assistant Superintendent Sarah Johnson, who discussed the district’s work serving English language learners and multilingual students, including immigrant and refugee families. They said Warren County now serves roughly 5,500 multilingual students out of about 19,000 total, representing about 92 languages and 90 countries, with 57 certified multilingual teachers, a GO Center, migrant and refugee advocates, and the state’s first international high school. The presenters emphasized that the district welcomes immigrant families and that students and parents generally value public education, but they described major challenges tied to accountability and funding. They explained that multilingual students are tested after one year in the system, even though many need more time to become proficient in English and grade-level standards, and they argued that current graduation-rate rules can unfairly penalize schools when transient students enroll briefly and then leave. They also said the cost of serving this population has risen sharply, with special revenue and especially general-fund spending increasing substantially over the past decade, prompting the district to reallocate resources from EL teacher assistants toward translation technology and additional certified staff. Committee members asked questions about how long-term multilingual students compare with the general student body and whether the district’s data show similar graduation outcomes. Clayton said he did not have the specific comparison data at hand but believed students who stay K-12 generally reach proficiency. He and Johnson asked legislators to consider giving students more time before accountability measures apply and to shift some graduation accountability from individual schools to the district level for highly transient populations, while still maintaining accountability. No formal votes or legislative actions were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:40:35.760><c> on</c> wouldn't These funds be better spent on wouldn't These funds be better spent
• I had 10 days of paid leave to be with her; five of those days were spent in the hospital.
• I had 10 days of paid leave to be with her; five of those days were spent in the hospital.
• </c> be with her five of those days was spent be with her five of those days was spent in<00:50:07.920
• It was too expensive to cover all my hours with other people, so I spent many days at the shop with a

Committee: House Workforce, Labor, and Economic Development Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><03:19:41.600><c> Both</c> have recklessly spent too much. Both have recklessly spent too much.
• </c><03:21:08.000><c> Massive</c> what was spent during co Yeah.
• Massive what was spent during co Yeah.
• Another fraudster spent two deportable.
• </c> same lead in the form of spent same lead in the form of spent ammunition<04:30:14.560><c> or</c>