Transcript Highlights:

• And then we are currently engaged right now in a joint procurement with the IBAC agencies for pharmacy
• benefits, and we are also procuring our state health benefits as well.
• We are in procurements right now, as I mentioned, and just a couple of improvements that we're focused
• But really making sure that we are auditing our hospitals, that we are training them, that they really

Transcript Highlights:

• Section one, parole board training.
• Section two, parole board composition and training. This section makes several updates.
• It supports both training and legal advice related to hearings.
• parole board composition and training. parole board composition and training.
• This support will offer both training This support will offer both training and<00:19:42.080>

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Washington State Procurement Apprenticeship Program Accountability and Completion.
• <00:44:14.480> involving rule in state procurements involving rule in state procurements involving
• ,<02:02:32.320> or vocational, educational, training, or vocational, educational, training
• And you have educational training, etc.
• the executive director of the training the executive director of the training commission.<02:04:

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Friday, March 20, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with 38 members present and a quorum, then began with an invocation and several ceremonial introductions. The chamber recognized pioneering women of the Maryland State Police for Women’s History Month, including the original six female graduates and other firsts in the department, and also introduced the day’s doctor and a student intern. The Senate agreed to journalize the remarks honoring the Maryland State Police guests. The body then took up several Finance Committee bills, adopting committee amendments and favorable reports without objection on Senate Bills 385, 387, 389, 753, 469, and 608, each of which was ordered printed for third reading. SB 385 concerns immunization, screening, and preventive-service recommendations and pharmacist administration; SB 387 restricts predatory pricing and use of personal data by food retailers and delivery services; SB 389 makes transit-oriented development changes; SB 753 addresses financial exploitation protections for seniors and vulnerable adults; SB 469 authorizes a Maryland Automobile Insurance Fund affordability program; and SB 608 requires coverage for pharmacogenomic testing. Senate Bill 626, dealing with birth certificate sex designation changes and related identification documents, was briefly set aside at the request of a senator seeking possible amendments, with the presiding officer agreeing to hold it until the next session. Senate Bill 739, a climate change, homeowners insurance, and emergency management study bill, was also introduced with one amendment and sparked debate over its scope and funding, including discussion of a $150,000 Strategic Energy Investment Fund allocation and whether the study would examine the General Assembly’s own climate policies. The transcript ends during that discussion, before any final action on SB 739.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1814, Alanis, peace officer training, held in committee.
• AB 1952, Marc Berman, foreign trained dentists, held in committee.
• AB 1789, Tasha Boerner Horvath, candidate trainings and reports, do pass as amended to require training
• AB 2583, Hoover, AI training, held in committee.
• AB 2592, Pacheco, lobbyist training, do pass out on an A roll call.

Summary: The Assembly Appropriations Committee held a suspense-file hearing on May 14, 2026, reviewing hundreds of Assembly bills and a few committee bills. The chair opened by explaining the committee’s budget constraints and the factors used in suspense decisions, including fiscal impact, return on investment, effects on constituents, and protection of the state’s social safety net. The agenda was organized alphabetically by author, and the committee noted that results would be posted later that day online. The committee then acted on a very large number of measures, sending many bills to the Assembly floor on do pass or do pass as amended motions, while holding many others in committee. Topics covered a broad range of policy areas, including housing, health care, education, labor, public safety, wildfire mitigation, water, energy, transportation, cannabis, immigration, and state governance. Many bills were amended to narrow scope, make implementation contingent on appropriations or existing resources, remove provisions, or clarify agency responsibilities; several bills were held without further action. Among the notable actions, the committee advanced bills on items such as Medi-Cal services, child care, wildfire-related programs, housing financing, school and college issues, public safety and criminal justice, environmental and energy policy, and various consumer and business regulations. Some measures were sent out on A or B roll calls, with Republicans often not voting on amended bills. The hearing concluded after the committee reported that a large number of bills had been moved to the Assembly floor, either as do pass or do pass with amendments, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• And procurement is the bane of our existence internally, and I'm going to get into that a little bit,
• Um, procurement. Uh, you know, I wasn't really sure what that meant in the city.
• Um, procurement. Uh, you know, I wasn't really sure what that meant in the city.
• That before we leave, just I'm saying what we're doing at DPP, that we're going to fix procurement for
• I'm with about 40 people, all of whom have been medically trained to be able to get out there in the

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Resources, including summer programs and teacher training, hang in limbo.
• , hang in limbo. teacher training, hang in limbo.
• Our troops can't train on promises. Our allies can't fight with doubt.
• Since its inception, procurement system.
• members of tools and training and pay. members of tools and training and pay. that<04:10:55.600>

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, July 17, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And it must include training, you know, want to get people's peace offer.
• How does that work when you're dealing with our our disabled population of people specially trained?
• The TNC varies will bring left, do not require those kinds of trainings.
• And they do actually have background checks and training and tip terms of, you know, how to deal with
• PTC uses technology to override the engineer to help prevent serious incidents like train to train collisions

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Bonnie Kahakuy, Administrator, State Procurement Office.
• >> State Procurement Office. >> Miss Kahakuy is on Zoom.
• There are other opportunities, like procurement, specifically e-procurement systems, which would continue
• <01:22:24.400> uh opportunities like procurement uh opportunities like procurement uh specifically
• - procurement systems specifically e- procurement systems which<01:22:27.040> would<01:22:27.520

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on several measures. HB 1957, relating to safe entryways, would create enforcement procedures in large cities to prevent personal property from blocking private doorways or entrances. The Department of the Attorney General supported the concept but recommended moving the offense to the criminal code, adding clearer definitions to avoid vagueness, and including notice, inventory, storage, and property-disposition procedures to address constitutional concerns. No other testimony was offered and no questions were raised. HB 25003/HB 253, relating to fireworks, would expand civil asset forfeiture for certain fireworks offenses, revise the definition of aerial device, and clarify air-delivery offenses. The Attorney General supported the bill but suggested removing the 25-pound weight threshold to avoid unequal treatment of similar offenses. The Department of Law Enforcement also supported the measure, saying it would improve clarity for evolving fireworks investigations and prosecutions. The committee took no action during testimony. HB 2137, relating to artificial intelligence, would prohibit certain harmful uses of realistic AI-generated digital imitations, require disclosures, and create civil remedies and fines. The Commission on the Status of Women supported the bill, while the Hawaiian Islands Republican Women opposed it on First Amendment grounds. The Motion Picture Association, Recording Industry Association of America, and SAG-AFTRA also opposed the bill but said they preferred a different framework, the federal “No Fakes” model, and were willing to work with the committee on amendments. The Attorney General had suggested constitutional amendments, which the chair said would be considered later. The committee also heard HB 2198 on prediction markets, with the Honolulu prosecutor strongly supporting inclusion of prediction markets in the gambling definition because of concerns about speculative betting on events and national security-related outcomes. HB 1511 on consumer protection drew support from the Office of Consumer Protection and the Insurance Division, with OCP proposing clearer disclosure for license and registration renewal solicitations. HB 1897 on condominium alternative dispute resolution received supportive comments from the Real Estate Commission and CI. HB 1642 on crypto kiosks drew strong support from OCP and AARP Hawaii for a ban on kiosks accepting U.S. currency, but opposition from Hill Ventures, which argued for regulation and guardrails instead of a ban. HB 1753 on social media account deletion received supportive comments from DCCA on clarifying deletion of unique identifiers and inferences. HB 1654 on anonymous complaints against public employees drew strong opposition from the Attorney General over implementation and due process concerns, while the Government Employees Association supported it as a way to screen baseless complaints; the committee then moved on to HB 1659 on collective bargaining, with testimony beginning as the transcript ended.

Transcript Highlights:

• notified other state agencies to make sure that they don't fall victim to the same, or the Office of Procurement
• Yeah, right now we've done one for the training environment, just to test it out.

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to the amount of an expenditure made by certain political subdivisions for which a competitive procurement
• Senate Bill 1295 by Johnson, relating to open meetings and public information training for certain public

Summary: The Senate met briefly to receive first-reading referrals of a large number of bills, resolutions, and joint resolutions. The measures covered a wide range of topics, including public education, health care, criminal justice, business regulation, transportation, water and natural resources, local government, taxation, elections, and public information. Many of the filings were by Senators Hughes, Perry, Alvarado, Creighton, Hancock, Parker, Zaffirini, Blanco, and others, and included proposals on school safety, health records and billing, election procedures, water planning, housing and rent issues, energy and environmental regulation, and criminal penalties. The chamber also read several concurrent and joint resolutions, including measures designating state symbols and local honors, a proposed constitutional amendment related to gaming by the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas, a proposal concerning special-session subjects, and resolutions on fiscal restraints and retirement obligations. No debate, testimony, or substantive action on the merits of the measures occurred in this portion of the transcript; the items were simply read and referred to committees. At the close of the proceedings, the Senate adjourned pursuant to a previously adopted motion and announced it would reconvene at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 4.

Transcript Highlights:

• Micah Huner, the director of procurement Micah Huner, the director of procurement at<00:53:16.480
• One for this training and technical assistance for supportive housing, but then also for training and
• They are trained in bloodborne pathogens, everything that a normal phlebotomist would be trained with
• <01:45:03.360> our and and we're looking at training our and and we're looking at training
• Um, this also helps to trained with.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The committee first approved the April 13 minutes and then turned to a large agenda of contracts. Chairman Douglas said there were 52 contracts totaling about $369.3 million, and noted that most vendors were registered with the Secretary of State except for item 118 on the routine personal services green list and item 19 involving Morehead State University and Kentucky State University. The committee voted to defer item 118 to the June 26 meeting and later also deferred the Kentucky State University contract on the deferred list to the June 26 meeting. The main discussion centered on a deferred personal services contract for the Kentucky Board of Optometric Examiners, involving outside legal counsel. Senator Meredith raised concerns about KRS 320 and whether the board had authority to hire outside counsel when the statute says the Attorney General shall provide legal services to the board. Dr. Mary Beth Morris, the board president, and Christopher Thacker of the Attorney General’s office testified after being sworn in. Thacker explained that the statute and related law allow both Attorney General assistance and independent counsel, and argued that outside counsel is appropriate for day-to-day legal work because it avoids conflicts, especially on open records issues, regulatory advice, and disciplinary hearings. Senator Meredith said he agreed with approving the contract but questioned how the board had reached this point and whether the current statutes reflect modern practice. He raised concerns about transparency and accountability, referencing a prior advisory opinion involving the board’s handling of exam requirements during COVID and saying the board should have consulted the Attorney General before acting. Thacker responded that the Attorney General’s office serves the Commonwealth as a whole, not as counsel to one board, and that the board’s use of outside counsel is a reasonable and economical arrangement. The exchange ended with Meredith suggesting that broader legislative action may be needed to clarify reporting relationships and oversight for the board.

Transcript Highlights:

• Folks trained in wildland firefighting.
• And so Representative Vincent had mentioned getting out there and having Training and people.
• And that's involved You know, we've got training operations going, led by Highlands, to train folks on
• I am a classically trained physicist. What I am doing in conservation, who knows?
• I'm a trained biologist and chemist by nature.

Transcript Highlights:

• Clubhouses, like Genesis Club in Worcester, provide community and job training programs for those with
• We know that these regional centers have been incredibly important in training and in coordination.
• They are experts and trained in mental health, just like law enforcement is in their field.
• In preparation for the pilot, we've already procured the leading provider of these services.
• In preparation for the pilot, we've already procured the leading provider of these services.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a Health and Human Services budget hearing in Clinton, with opening remarks from Chairs Meg Kilcoyne and Robin Kennedy, local officials, and many House and Senate members introducing themselves. The hearing focused on Governor Healey’s FY27 EOHHS and MassHealth budgets, with repeated themes of rising health care costs, federal funding uncertainty, workforce shortages, and access to care in underserved regions. Members also raised concerns about primary care shortages, rural and regional disparities, behavioral health access, maternal health, food insecurity, and the impact of federal policy changes on Massachusetts programs. EOHHS Secretary Kiame Mahaniah said the FY27 EOHHS budget totals $33.7 billion, reflecting mostly non-discretionary growth from health care costs, labor costs, caseload increases, and provider rate pressures. He highlighted targeted investments in foster care, family resource centers, maternal health, youth services, nutrition programs, immigrant legal services, and human service workforce rates, while warning that federal actions could strip roughly $3.5 billion annually from the state’s health care funding. In response to questions, he defended the administration’s cooperation with federal audits and program integrity efforts, discussed the primary care crisis, and said the state is trying to preserve core services while preparing for a more difficult FY28 budget cycle. MassHealth Undersecretary Mike Levine then described two major FY27 challenges: double-digit cost growth and the expected effects of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He said MassHealth’s proposed $22.7 billion gross budget includes a 7.5% increase and relies on a moratorium on new expansions plus targeted reductions, including a $1,000 annual adult dental cap, ending GLP-1 coverage for weight loss only, reducing care management to peer-state levels, and work groups to slow growth in PCA, adult foster care, and adult day health spending. Members questioned the impact on Boston Health Care for the Homeless, preventive care, and regional access; Levine said the changes are meant to preserve sustainability, that children and certain disabled populations remain protected, and that the administration will continue working with providers, advocates, and the Legislature on implementation and longer-term reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• > our um I'm chief procurement officer and our um I'm chief procurement officer and our DNR<00
• That wasn't counting the contracting, the procurement.
• That the contracting, the procurement.
• >> procured by state approved distribution.
• , because the way I interpret procured, that allows somebody to procure foreign-based manufactured homes

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on House Bill 2592, which would clarify the powers of the Mauna Stewardship and Oversight Authority regarding land use on Mauna Akea and related property transfers. The Department of Land and Natural Resources supported the rural property transfer but objected to language transferring conservation district use permits, saying CDUPs normally run with the land rather than being assigned to specific telescopes or observatories. The University of Hawaiʻi and the observatories generally supported the bill but urged clearer language, especially on the transfer of real property assets, related obligations and liabilities, and the inclusion of milestones for the transition. Office of Hawaiian Affairs supported the bill’s overall intent but warned that some language could be overbroad and might improperly waive future beneficiary claims. Several testifiers opposed the measure, arguing it ignored DHHL lands and beneficiary rights, while others supported it as a way to clarify the authority’s role. Members questioned DLNR about the practical effects of transferring CDUP responsibility, and the committee emphasized that the bill was narrowly focused on specific land. The committee then took up House Bill 2593, which would authorize the Mauna Stewardship and Oversight Authority to extend existing leases and subleases for up to 10 years. The authority explained that the bill does not itself extend any lease, but instead gives the authority discretion to initiate a transparent public process if extensions are needed. The University of Hawaiʻi supported the concept but said the timing of any extension matters and noted possible legal requirements under state law. The observatories also supported the bill, describing it as a flexible tool during a broader transition process and noting that the authority has held many public planning workshops. Opponents, including Native Hawaiian and community testifiers, argued that the conservation lands should receive the highest protection, that the community had not consented, and that the observatories have had decades to plan ahead. One testifier urged the bill be deferred or killed for lack of clarity. In response to questions, the committee clarified that the bill only authorizes a process and does not itself extend leases, and that any extension would require public participation. The final measure discussed in the excerpt was House Bill 2047, relating to the AHAPU advisory committee. The discussion focused on the committee’s administrative relationship to the Department of Land and Natural Resources and whether DLNR should oversee basic legal compliance issues such as Sunshine Law and legislative reporting. DLNR explained that the committee is administratively attached to the department, which provides support on human resources, procurement, and legal questions, but that the committee itself generally handles its own operations. The department said it would route compliance questions to its attorneys and implement their advice. The hearing then moved on to House Bill 2231, which would transfer appointment authority for island burial council members from the governor and Senate to the Office of Hawaiian Affairs board of trustees. OHA said it generally supported the change for geographic moku representatives, since it already nominates candidates for those seats, but expressed concern about taking on appointment authority for the large landowner seats because that role is less directly tied to its statutory duties.

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's why I referenced that you're probably going to be working very closely with NAIDA to procure
• I would presume then it would have to procure the original source substance and then uh, actually um,
• :13:08.399> to be working very closely with NAIDA to be working very closely with NAIDA to procure
• it because they could procure it because they could manufacture<00:13:10.480> it<00:13:10.720
• the original source substance procure the original source substance and<00:14:12.959> then<00

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• When I worked in many, many rate cases and other utility proceedings, including power procurement proceedings
• proposals, so they would have utility-owned resources. ...other utility proceedings, including power procurement
• to $10 million for low-income bill assistance, $35 million for economic development and workforce training

Bills: SM20, SM9, SJR6, HB124

Keywords: youth violence, violence prevention, violence intervention, community violence intervention, credible messengers, peer support, restorative justice, violence interrupters, juvenile justice, at-risk youth, high-risk youth, public safety, Department of Health, New Mexico, statewide summit, data collection, reporting, interagency coordination, community-based organizations, law enforcement

Transcript Highlights:

• process, developing a model for engaging with legal advocates in courts, creating . . . an effective training
• the agency can carry out its mission more efficiently. of Inspector General faces challenges in procuring
• This bill clarifies the process. process aligning the Office of Inspector General's expert witness procurement

Bills: HB26, HB140, HB141, HB142, HB215, HB26, HB140, HB141, HB142, HB215

Keywords: Medicaid, nutrition support, maternal health, chronic conditions, pilot program, DFPS, Department of Family and Protective Services, child protective services, child abuse investigations, child neglect, child exploitation, advisory committee, Family and Protective Services Council, council abolition, foster care, due process, investigative procedures, child welfare, parental rights, family preservation services

Transcript Highlights:

• about public-private partnerships, so it can be used for that purpose also. having to change the procurement
• Yes, Madam Speaker, yes, gentlemen, that's the piece that ties back to the procurement code. in maybe
• So I'm guessing that recycling is it shipped out of state on trucks or trains?

Transcript Highlights:

• standard for ranked-choice voting presents a logistical and financial challenge, complicating the training
• of staff, the procurement of voting equipment, and the education of voters.
• of staff, the procurement of voting equipment, and the education of voters.
• of staff, the procurement of voting equipment, and the education of voters.
• of staff, the procurement of voting equipment, and the education of voters.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so as we continue to onboard and hire and train, expenses for training and onboarding new staff and
• materials, and training for teachers.
• Summer training academies are offered to teachers desiring additional training in teaching and assisting
• Summer training academies are offered to teachers desiring additional training in teaching and assisting
• Training, when we do training for people that folks that come in to get their driver's license.

Keywords: 1204, all