Transcript Highlights:

• Our residents are feeling the immense pinch of high costs in child care, health care, housing, electricity
• That's keeping people... ...electricity costs are too high and it's easier for them to go somewhere else
• That's going to account for 20% of our electricity load here in the state.
• “And you know what we did with the recent electric and gas bill discounts that ratepayers are going to
• And where utility companies are attempting to increase the rates for natural gas and electricity, we,

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The hearing opened the FY27 budget process with remarks from the Senate and House Ways and Means chairs and testimony from Governor Healey and Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew Gorzkowicz. The chairs emphasized fiscal caution amid choppy revenue growth, rising health care and education costs, and federal uncertainty, while the governor framed House 2 as a $62.8 billion budget that grows spending by about 1% without new taxes or fees and aims to protect core services while advancing affordability. The administration said the budget uses efficiencies, program integrity, and Fair Share surtax revenue to support education, transportation, housing, child care, health care, and public safety, and it also filed a supplemental Fair Share bill using surplus FY25 funds. Much of the questioning focused on the federal “OB3” tax law and the administration’s separate proposal to delay or phase in certain corporate tax changes, especially research and experimental deductions, to avoid in-year budget shocks. Members also pressed the administration on Fair Share allocations, with the governor and secretary explaining that operating-budget surtax spending is weighted more toward education while supplemental spending is more transportation-focused, and that combined spending is roughly balanced overall. The administration highlighted Chapter 70 aid, special education circuit breaker funding, rural school aid, local aid, child care, the MBTA deficit, regional transit authorities, and a new HHS transportation line item as part of the broader transportation strategy. Several members raised concerns about Chapter 70 equity, rural districts, municipal overrides, out-migration, housing affordability, public housing repairs, and the MBTA Communities Act. The governor and secretary said they are open to further discussion on school funding formulas, PILOT, and municipal aid, and stressed housing production, energy affordability, and workforce development as key responses to out-migration. On energy, the governor defended an all-of-the-above approach, including renewables, gas, and exploration of nuclear, while saying she would continue pushing utilities and regulators to reduce ratepayer costs. The governor also said fire safety grants would not be withheld for noncompliance with the MBTA Communities Act, and members discussed public safety, housing, and local grant impacts in that context. Other topics included the Bright Act and higher education capital investments, with the administration saying it is preparing to support campus infrastructure across the public higher education system and that the bill is intended to strengthen Massachusetts’ competitiveness and retain graduates. Members also questioned cuts to the PCA program and EAEDC, and the governor responded that the state’s PCA program remains strong but is under pressure from large federal health care reductions. No votes were taken; the session was a hearing on the governor’s budget proposal and related policy bills, with the administration taking questions and offering explanations of its recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're from Beaumont, Texas.
• I don't want any more children to die at a Texas youth camp.
• I'm the father of Lucy Dillon from Houston, Texas.
• I'm the owner and director of Camp LaHunta in Hunt, Texas.
• Camps across Texas are as diverse as our geography.

Transcript Highlights:

• Franco, here on behalf of the California Electric Transportation Coalition, in support. J.T.
• And we know that low-income Californians want electric vehicles.
• And I would love to see more working families have access to those electric vehicles.
• We don't have the type of apparatus to put out issues if we have electrical or battery fires.
• We don't have the type of apparatus to put out issues if we have electrical or battery fires.

Summary: The committee heard a long housing agenda with several bills presented before quorum was established. AB 1725, as amended, would require disclosure of nearby oil wells and methane monitoring issues in a specific district; the author and community witnesses described serious health and safety risks in Vista Hermosa Heights, while the California Apartment Association, California Building Industry Association, and California Chamber of Commerce opposed, arguing the bill targeted the wrong industry and that the state should instead fix abandoned wells directly. AB 2110, a local finance tool to create tax increment districts for workforce housing for education, health care, manufacturing, and public safety workers, drew no witnesses in support or opposition and was presented as a way to help workers live closer to jobs. AB 1732 would expand CEQA streamlining for public university and college housing projects; UC and several housing and labor groups supported it, while housing advocates raised concerns about amendments affecting existing 100% affordable housing exemptions. AB 1771, amended into a study bill, would direct HCD to report on the long-standing resident manager requirement for apartment buildings with 16 or more units; the rental housing industry supported studying the issue, while the chair emphasized the need to consider tenant protections and the impact on current resident managers before changing the law. The committee also heard AB 2185, which would direct state affordable housing programs to update guidelines to better support factory-built housing; it drew broad support from housing, labor, technology, and local government groups, with no opposition. AB 2748 would delay new EV-readiness requirements for 100% affordable housing developments, keeping the prior 40% standard through 2035; supporters said the higher standard would add significant costs and threaten project feasibility, while clean air and transportation advocates argued the code changes are modest, important for equity, and should not be rolled back. Members split along those lines, with some emphasizing housing production and others urging more public subsidy for EV infrastructure rather than delaying the code. SB 417, a proposed $10 billion affordable housing bond for the November ballot, received extensive support from housing organizations, local governments, labor, and business groups, but Habitat for Humanity and the Los Angeles mayor’s office asked for specific allocations for CalHome and interim housing; the bill was ultimately moved to Appropriations on an 8-0 vote, with members noting ongoing negotiations over funding priorities. Finally, AB 1740 would create an urban multimodal community designation for Santa Monica, allowing local approval of certain low-impact coastal-zone activities—such as some housing, bike and bus lanes, outdoor dining, and building changes—without Coastal Commission review. The author and Santa Monica officials said the bill would reduce delays and uncertainty for infill housing and local economic recovery while preserving protections for sensitive coastal resources; supporters included housing, business, and city groups. The Coastal Commission and environmental organizations opposed, saying the bill would carve out broad exemptions, weaken public access and appeal rights, and bypass the local coastal program process that Santa Monica has not completed. Committee members debated the Commission’s role, with some criticizing it for opposing legislation and others arguing the bill was a common-sense way to modernize coastal permitting. A motion and second were made on AB 1740, and the bill was left pending with the committee’s action to be taken when appropriate.

Transcript Highlights:

• It's the Government Finance Officers Association. of Texas, Texas City Management Association, Texas
• dollars remain in Texas and are reinvested in Texas.
• in Texas.
• Texas? Yes, sir.
• This bill just tries to keep a small portion in Texas to benefit Texas.

Bills: HB245 , HB700 , HB2783 , HB3526 , HB3900 , HB4061 , HB4124 , HB4166 , HB4395 , HB4534 , HB4609 , HB4641 , HB4736 , HB4738 , HB4739 , HB4945 , HB5015 , HJR175 , HB245

Committee: House Pensions, Investments & Financial Services

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, so I would like to make sure he has the authority to determine the electric... >> to him.
• electricity that is generated and runs electricity that is generated and runs our<00:15:42.880><c> prisons
• ><00:15:48.720><c> the</c> has the authority to determine the has the authority to determine the electric
• electric electric &gt;&gt; to<00:15:49.360><c> him.
• </c> what's the wage, what's the electricity what's the wage, what's the electricity cost,<00:41:18.520

Committee: House Judiciary

Transcript Highlights:

• My name is Stephanie Graves, and I am here on behalf of the Texas Apartment Association in Houston, Texas
• Texas is different. Texas was founded on ideals of freedom and liberty.
• Texas is different. Texas loves freedom, but House Bill 32 threatens these fundamental rights.
• Texas Tenants Union, formerly in Dallas, Texas.
• United Ways of Texas, or United Way? United Ways of Texas. United Ways of Texas on the bill.

Bills: HB32 , HB15 , HB171 , HB421 , HB581 , HB644 , HB745 , HB349 , HB917 , HB204 , HB923 , HB15 , HB171 , HB204

Committee: House Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Transcript Highlights:

• Look at what happened in Texas. Voter ID laws disenfranchise voters.
• Look at what happened in Texas. Millions of voters were disenfranchised due to a similar law.
• We wanted to understand also the driving patterns of electric vehicles.
• As you know, electric vehicles do not pay gas tax, and so we were trying to figure out how many miles
• And then in cases like electric vehicles and... ...information is automatically transmitted.

Bills: AB49 , AB169 , AB188 , AB284 , AB296 , AB306 , AB356 , AB366 , AB467 , AB499 , AB515 , AB540 , AB542 , AB595

Committee: Senate Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• In all 12 hospital systems including Michael Beauchamp: Stanford and Texas Children's have reported no
• It is a direct result of human tissue contact with lasers and electric surgical pencils commonly used
• Services for participation requires compliance with NFPA 99, National Fire Prevention Association electrical

Committee: Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• She holds a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from Texas Tech University and is a proud graduate of
• increasing registration fees for passenger vehicles, requiring additional registration fees for electric
• and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and distributing the additional fees to the state road fund, adjusting

Transcript Highlights:

• The state of Texas, the Texas Attorney General, used grant funds to do this research.
• Texas.
• Texas.
• , and the Texas Law Foundation.
• Texas CASA is the statewide membership organization for the 74 local CASA programs in Texas.

Bills: HCR16 , HB782 , HB2159 , HB2288 , HB3281 , HB3819 , HB4656 , HB4696 , HB5494 , HCR16

Committee: House S/C on Family & Fiduciary Relationships

Transcript Highlights:

• White Nursery in Texas County.
• Gentlemen from Texas, for all first you rise. Mr.
• Gentleman from Texas. Mr.
• White Nursery in Texas County.
• To inquire the gentleman from Texas County, To inquire the gentleman from Texas County.

Transcript Highlights:

• have to look at perimeter security of that facility, electronic security upgrades, mechanical, electrical
• have to look at perimeter security of that facility, electronic security upgrades, mechanical, electrical
• To look at perimeter security of that facility, electronic security upgrades, mechanical, electrical,
• From what I could tell, it looks like maybe they filed it in Texas.
• um I mean I have a filed it in Texas um I mean I have a litany<00:19:54.679><c> questions</c><00:19:

Summary: The committee heard an overview from Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner Randy White on the state’s juvenile detention network and several facility projects. He identified the currently operating detention centers as Boyd County for females, Breathitt County for low-risk males, Fayette County for high-risk males, Adair County for high-risk youth from Jefferson and surrounding counties, Warren County for high-risk males, and McCracken County for low-risk males. Members asked about capacity and staffing; White said Boyd County houses 33 and is usually near full, Breathitt County is about half full, Fayette County runs about 80-90% full, Campbell County’s operational limit is about 25 due to staffing, Adair County can hold 60 and has hit capacity several times this year, Warren County holds 43 and usually runs near capacity, and McCracken County holds 43 and is not currently full. He said staffing is generally harder in higher-risk facilities and in metropolitan areas because of wages and housing costs. White then updated the committee on the Louisville Detention Center downtown renovation and the Lyon facility project. For the Louisville downtown facility, he said schematic design and design development are complete, construction documents are expected by late February or early March, bids are anticipated in April, and completion is projected for March 2027. He explained the delay is due to extensive renovation work needed to bring the building up to current building, life-safety, ACA, and PREA standards, including security, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, food service, and roof work. The project is designed for 64 beds for high-risk Jefferson County boys, with the facility currently vacant and those youth being housed in Adair County and Campbell County. For the Lyon project, he said the contract was issued November 21, 2024, demolition is underway, completion is expected June 14, 2026, and the facility will have 34 beds in four pods for low-risk offenders; he said the project appears to be on time and on budget within the $4.5 million authorization. The committee also discussed the medical services contract. DJJ officials said they are reviewing whether to continue with the current state contract provider, Wellpath, or pursue an RFP, while retaining current merit staff and continuing oversight through four nurse program administrators. They said DJJ uses a state master agreement to staff nurses, APRNs, and the chief medical officer, and that the current contract is about $20 million per year. Members asked about Wellpath’s bankruptcy filing; officials said they were aware of it, asked questions, and were told it would not affect Kentucky service delivery or contracting, though they could not recall the bankruptcy type and offered to provide more detail later. They also said DJJ is working with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services to become a Medicaid provider, and any future contractual partner will need to be a Medicaid provider. Finally, White described the proposed high-acuity juvenile mental health treatment facility. He said DJJ must accept court-ordered youth even when they have severe mental illness, but detention centers are not equipped to treat those youth and private psychiatric hospitals often refuse them or discharge them early. He argued that a dedicated secure treatment facility is needed for a small number of highly violent, high-need youth who require intensive psychiatric care and are disruptive in detention. The facility would provide behavioral and psychiatric treatment, reduce delays caused by lack of beds or outside placements, and serve youth determined by clinical assessment to need a secure treatment environment. No votes were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center after earning his doctorate from the University of Texas
• You, a vote, I, nay, have seen two-thirds by loads electric con in the house that could the emergency
• You could have, I mean, somebody living just across the Texas line coming into the state, working in
• this thing, and then they're taking their income home and spending it in the Texas economy.
• I'm assuming in Texas, since you're advocating for us to send our public tax dollars there.

Bills: HJR1101 , SB1319 , SB1264 , HB4237 , SB1277 , SB2069 , HB3066 , HB2115 , HB2153 , HB2268 , HB2961 , SB1679 , SB2018 , HB4294 , SB2095 , HB4113 , SB1894 , SB1810 , HB4268 , HB1752 , HB3413 , SB625 , HB3644 , HB3940 , HJR1096 , HJR1100 , HJR1099 , HB2992 , SB1636 , HB4302 , SB1613 , SB1443 , HB1409 , HB1675 , HB1225 , HB1381 , HB4359 , SB1503

Transcript Highlights:

• The bail unit is in Cleveland, Texas.
• It was a unit in North of Dallas, one in Dybal, Texas and one in Cleveland, Texas.
• Director for Texas Juvenile Justice Department.
• Exceptional item number four, the East Texas Regional Armory is a new concept that would move the Texas
• I'm here representing Texas Civil Rights Project.

Committee: House Appropriations - S/C on Articles I, IV, & V

Transcript Highlights:

• A good model is actually the state of Texas, and I did draft a privacy bill that isn't all-encompassing
• In conclusion, Real ID is foundational to a control grid. He who controls the data makes the rules.
• We have seen some fraud in Texas on that issue.

Summary: The committee approved the minutes from March 10, 2026, and then heard several House bills, mostly on appropriations, fees, water, food assistance, technology, and licensing. HB 2056, which would appropriate $100,000 for an Arizona Department of Water Resources feasibility study on brackish groundwater desalination, passed 6-3 despite concerns raised in opposition about increased groundwater pumping, subsidence, and impacts to tribal lands and conservation efforts. HB 2057, reducing the Arizona Centennial Special Plate renewal fee from $25 to $20, also passed 7-2 after one senator objected that the plate’s purpose and discount were not well justified. HB 2224, appropriating $1 million annually to DES for the produce incentive program, drew supportive testimony from food access groups who said the program helps families, farmers, and local markets; members noted the amount was below the prior $2 million funding level and could force site closures, but the bill passed 9-0. The committee also advanced HB 2257, which changes the distribution of watercraft registration and fee revenue, shifting more money to lake improvement and boating safety funds and less to the watercraft licensing fund. It passed 6-3 amid criticism that the bill moved money away from Game and Fish and concern that the boating safety fund increase could support immigration enforcement. HB 2265, which bars courts from charging criminal defendants for public defender services and certain other criminal-case fees and assessments, passed 7-1 after extensive testimony from advocates who argued the fees burden indigent defendants and cost more to collect than they raise; opponents called it a cost shift to counties and other local governments and said more fiscal data was needed. HB 2311, regulating publicly available conversational AI services with disclosure, anti-gamification, sexual-content restrictions, parental tools, and self-harm protocols, passed 7-2 after the sponsor and supporters framed it as child protection, while opponents warned about privacy, surveillance, and overbroad definitions; an Epstein amendment broadening the bill was rejected. The committee then considered HB 2752, which would subject Arizona Commerce Authority trade offices to legislative appropriation and require annual reporting. The ACA said it was neutral but supported the concept of data-driven decisions; the sponsor said the Legislature should approve trade offices and that the bill reflected his prior trade-office initiatives. An Epstein amendment requiring objective research for trade-office appropriations was rejected, and the bill passed 6-3. Finally, the committee heard HB 2957, which would preserve non-Real ID driver’s licenses, prohibit mandatory participation in enhanced ID programs, restrict biometric collection and document retention, and bar government entities from requiring digital or mobile IDs. The sponsor and several supporters argued it protects privacy, state sovereignty, and informed consent, while opponents from ADOT and the trucking industry warned it could conflict with federal Real ID and CDL requirements and jeopardize federal compliance and funding. The discussion was still ongoing at the end of the transcript, with witnesses and members debating whether the bill would change current practice or create federal conflicts.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><01:39:58.320><c> Um</c> Texas, Texas, and Georgia uh as well.
• Um Texas, Texas, and Georgia uh as well.
• <c> powered</c><05:28:52.320><c> lawn</c> With regards to electric powered lawn With regards to electric
• <c> credit</c><05:30:01.360><c> tax</c> The electric bicycle tax credit tax The electric bicycle tax
• </c> know, why we led into the electric know, why we led into the electric lawnmowers<05:34:04.000><c

Transcript Highlights:

• grandmother, Martha Mania Chacon, led the way for our Indian reservation to have clean drinking water and electricity
• Returning to the California State University system after leading Texas A&M University, With over 30
• She holds a law degree from Berkeley. a policy degree from Texas, and a college degree from Stanford.

Transcript Highlights:

• So I know that some states, Texas being one, they have a lot of career Type training at their schools
• I have family that lives in Texas, and they have cosmetology. They have firefighting.
• of what that looks like, but many schools' technology centers are looking at how do we embed an electrical
• Why is there not technology center service in Texas County? It doesn't make sense to me.
• The great news is, especially with Texas County and Julieinger, who represents Panhandle State, we have

Transcript Highlights:

• And of course, the electric one started right up and had just as much torque and was as high quality
• Saugus is also the home to two electric trash trucks that are powered by the waste they collect.
• Saugus is also the home to two electric trash trucks that are powered by the waste they collect.
• I think I saw Texas—this is on record, so I need to be really careful about Texas—Arizona, and I saw

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a hybrid hearing with testimony on a range of environmental bills. Early testimony focused on H. 1018, which would update management of the Commonwealth’s water resources and limit new conditions on historic water registrations. Water officials from Wellesley and the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission supported the bill, arguing that drought-related restrictions on registered withdrawals are difficult to administer, create customer confusion, and can undermine utility revenue needed for infrastructure upgrades. A Massachusetts Waterworks Association representative also backed the bill, saying registered systems have long operated within their allocations and should not have those withdrawals conditioned by regulation. A major portion of the hearing centered on H. 1040, which would ban tire-derived materials on playgrounds and playing fields. The bill’s petitioner, environmental advocates, and an environmental chemist testified that crumb rubber and other tire-derived infill can release chemicals into soil and water and may pose risks to aquatic life and public health. Committee members asked about alternatives and costs; witnesses said natural grass and some organic infills are available, though more research is needed on some substitutes. Rep. Schwartz also testified on CSO-related bills, describing combined sewer overflows as a public health and environmental problem and saying the bills set deadlines but leave implementation methods to local and regional officials. Rep. Chacolo supported H. 909, a grant program for low-noise, low-emission landscape equipment, citing worker health, noise, and emissions concerns, and Sen. Cyr testified for bills addressing coastal and environmental acidification and nutrient pollution. The hearing also included extensive testimony on H. 4040, which would prevent discharge of radioactive materials from the Pilgrim decommissioning process. Speakers including a Sierra Club representative, a physician, and the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association opposed Holtec’s plan to dispose of radioactive wastewater through evaporation or discharge, citing public health, transparency, and economic risks to fisheries and coastal communities. Another large block of testimony addressed CSO legislation, especially H. 1046 and related bills for the MWRA service area. Environmental groups, residents, and river users described sewage overflows into the Charles, Mystic, and Alewife Brook, impacts on health and recreation, and the need for a timeline to eliminate or sharply reduce overflows. Industry representatives opposed the CSO and waste bills, arguing they would be costly, duplicative, and disruptive, while waste facility operators said they already use continuous emissions monitoring and comply with existing regulations. No votes were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• NMDDOT reported formula funding had not been impacted with the exception of agreements to build out electric
• However, the president's budget proposal would rescind the unobligated balances from the National Electric
• So a good example of that is the federal government had a new program to pay for electric vehicle charging
• California has the highest error rates, then followed by Louisiana, Texas, Oregon, and Alabama.
• That's how we know that potentially California and Texas might be on the same hook for 25%, which is

Committee: House Federal Funding Stabilization Subcommittee