Transcript Highlights:

• 2026, and we were convened in Room 224 and video conferencing, which includes the audio and video of remote
• So if my [clears throat] last testimony when I appeared before the House, I did say that the, and I think
• So if my [clears throat] last testimony when I appeared before the House, I did say that the, and I think
• So if my [clears throat] last testimony when I appeared before the House, I did say that the, and I think
• So if my [clears throat] last testimony when I appeared before the House, I did say that the, and I think

Bills: SB2350, SB2349, SB2407, SB3320

Keywords: agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, agribusiness, Department of Agriculture, regulatory functions, employee benefits, restorative practices, sustainability, environmental stewardship, local food systems, Native Hawaiian, workforce development, agricultural development, Hawaii Island, property manager, state employment, SB3320, Hawaii, Agribusiness Development Corporation

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SP 2350, which would transfer oversight of the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Development Division and the aquaculture and livestock support services branch to the Agribusiness Development Corporation. The Department of Agriculture and ADC both testified, with ADC opposing the bill as written while supporting the goal of strengthening agriculture. ADC said the transfer could create federal operational and coordination risks, jeopardize federal funding and program continuity, and was unnecessary because ADC is a business development entity, not a regulatory agency. The Hawaii Farmers Union also expressed concern that moving the programs could weaken the department’s ability to access federal resources, while the Hawaii Farm Bureau submitted written testimony and the Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association and H-Plan were noted as supporting the measure; the Hawaii Cattlemen’s Council was noted as opposing it. Much of the discussion focused on aquaculture’s economic potential and the role of regulation, permitting, and funding. Committee members questioned why aquaculture had not grown faster, citing current gross revenues of about $66 million last year, a prior high of $82 million, and a possible long-term target of $500 million. Testimony identified permitting and feed costs as major barriers, along with market conditions and water quality issues affecting producers. ADC described ongoing efforts on feed development, permitting streamlining, coastal-state collaboration on seaweed and restorative aquaculture, and national advocacy for more parity in seafood import standards. Members also pressed the Department of Agriculture on its leadership and priorities, criticizing the lack of bills and resources dedicated to aquaculture and asking whether the department should have more authority to pursue land purchases and development opportunities. The department said it relies on divisions and industry feedback for bill ideas, noted it funds an annual aquaculture survey, and said it was pursuing congressional earmarks and other funding for aquaculture parks, research, and export/import issues. ADC said it would work with the department if the bill passed, but that its current statute does not give it regulatory authority and any such change would require a statutory amendment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, he's remote. Okay. I don't remember my glasses next time. I'm good. No, I'm good.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Public Service held its fifth hearing of the 194th General Court on disability, line-of-duty, and health presumption bills. Committee members noted the hearing was livestreamed and accepted written testimony through June 16, 2025. The first panel, including the Massachusetts Coalition of Police, strongly supported H.2845, which would require restoration of sick, vacation, or personal time used while an injured officer or firefighter awaits a Chapter 41, Section 11F determination if the injury is later found work-related. Testimony said the current process often forces injured personnel to litigate to recover accrued time, and members described the bill as a fairness measure with no fiscal cost. Committee members asked about prior consideration and municipal positions, and one member shared a personal experience with a similar loss of accrued time. A second major panel from the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts and sponsoring legislators supported several firefighter-related bills: H.2918/S.1792 on mandatory insurance coverage for firefighter cancer screenings; H.2962/S.1818 on Commonwealth fire department parity for military-base and Massport firefighters, including injury coverage and presumptions; and H.2860/S.1851 on maintaining physical examination records. Testimony emphasized the high cancer risk in the fire service, the importance of early detection, and the need to extend municipal-level protections to state and Massport firefighters. Committee members expressed strong support, discussed PFAS-related gear replacement and funding, and noted that similar bills have been before the committee for multiple sessions. The committee also heard H.4147, a retirement-related bill for a MassDOT employee seeking to transfer approximately five years of MBTA retirement contributions into the state system as a service buyback. The bill was described as having been filed in 2017 and reported favorably last session, but it stalled in Senate Ways and Means. Finally, Howard Levine testified remotely in support of a correctional officer disability pension bill, describing severe injuries from a 1990 inmate assault, multiple surgeries, early retirement, and a request to increase his pension to reflect a current lieutenant’s salary. No votes were taken during the hearing, and the meeting adjourned after testimony concluded.

Transcript Highlights:

• The only part that DOC may have in this, if counties have some remote issues, they may make recommendations

Bills: SB137, SB504, SB1213, SB1216, SB1221, SB1224, SB1232, SB1238, SB1255, SB1256, SB1258, SB1264, SB1266, SB1325, SB1441, SB1448, SB1450, SB1460, SB1496, SB1543, SB1589, SB1597, SB1621, SB1655, SB1679, SB1687, SB1716, SB1730, SB1733, SB1769, SB1921, SB1932, SB1936, SB1980, SB2011, SB2030, SB2084, SB2112, SB2170, SB2182

Keywords: electronic monitoring, Department of Corrections, criminal justice, rehabilitation, public safety, SB1213, earned credits, inmate credits, good time, sentence reduction, DOC, prison reform, corrections policy, inmate classification, class levels, rehabilitation credits, achievement credits, vocational training, educational credits, prison programs

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the name of the member participating remotely. Olson.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Chinese products such as power transformers have been found to have components that allow remote monitoring

Transcript Highlights:

• [Music] The clerk will call the names of the members participating remotely. Hill. Go for it. Hill.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• of a specific translation of the Ten Commandments down to individual word choices. that are not remotely

Bills: SCR5, SCR13, SB3, SB6, SB10, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB17, SB18, SB19, SB24, SB35, SB57, SB65, SB112, SB284, SB290, SB388, SB400, SB402, SB412, SB495, SB499, SB502, SB509, SB621, SB706, SB740, SB815, SB842, SB854, SB875, SB893, SB917, SB974, SB1025, SB1061, SB1073, SB1106, SB1268, SB1281, SB1300, SB1362, SB1379, SB1447, SB1451, SB1555, SB1902, SJR36, SJR12, SCR13, SCR25, SCR5, SCR22, SCR12, SCR24, SB495, SB412, SB10, SB18, SB565, SB372, SB842, SB765, SB62, SB19, SB666, SB707, SB888, SB687, SB706, SB847, SB290, SB13, SB1248, SB740, SB14, SB1006, SB504, SB917, SB925, SB388, SB1902, SB1121, SB995, SB857, SB305, SB296, SB284, SB35, SB6, SB815, SB3, SB1281, SB1379, SB1300, SB1497, SB1499, SB1498, SB1451, SB1061, SB15, SB65, SB241, SB304, SB402, SB499, SB621, SB974, SB1023, SB1024, SB1025, SB1106, SB686, SB112, SB371, SB204, SB400, SB609, SB1447, SB670, SB502, SB427, SB850, SB854, SB413, SB1555, SB1362, SB1346, SB1033, SB1220, SB1073, SB810, SB987, SB1539, SB893, SB447, SB875, SB406, SB509, SB985, SB965, SB17, SB1119, SB1505, SB12, SB24, SB57, SB1194, SB1253, SB1215, SB1532, SB1268, SB1302, SB856, SB650, SB583, SB673, SB840, SJR57, SCR8, SB213, SB681, SB1172, SB1252, SB378, SB610, SB918, SB1343, SB608, SB487, SB955, SB957, SB988, SB990, SB1019, SB1021, SB1120, SB251, SB958, SB535, SB761, SB1, SB541, SB315, SB379, SB1018, SB1737, SB266, SB1415

Keywords: SCR 5, Senate Concurrent Resolution 5, Texas School for the Deaf, TSD, Robert Rives, gymnasium naming, building naming, honorary resolution, commemorative resolution, deaf education, hard of hearing, Gallaudet University, alumni hall of fame, football coach, school facility naming, education K-16, State Affairs, Texas Legislature, public school tribute, water rights

Transcript Highlights:

• Our final testifier here, and then we have one remotely, is Alexandria Fitz Simmons.
• We will now go to our remote testifier, Sarah Bernhard. crisis management policies.
• now<00:53:59.920> go<00:54:00.000> to<00:54:00.160> our<00:54:00.400> remote
• Uh we will now go to our remote Simmons.
• Uh we will now go to our remote uh<00:54:01.359> testifier,<00:54:02.559> Sarah<00:54:03.040

Bills: HF4893

Keywords: education finance, student support, aid allowances, appropriation, school funding

Transcript Highlights:

• Miss Leser, who's testifying remotely, and she's here to talk about, um, she's from Invest in Education
• Miss Leser, who's testifying remotely, and she's here to talk about, um, she's from Invest in Education
• Miss Leser, who's testifying remotely, and she's here to talk about, um, she's from Invest in Education
• Miss Leser, who's testifying remotely, and she's here to talk about, um, she's from Invest in Education
• Miss Leser, who's testifying remotely, and she's here to talk about, um, she's from Invest in Education

Bills: HF3490, HF4040

Keywords: education finance, scholarship-granting organizations, charitable purposes, student scholarships, nonpublic schools, K-12 education, tax credit, advance payment, Minnesota tax law, child education expenses, taxpayer assistance, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Minnesota House, and, uh, we had just started session and COVID hit and we had to go to online learning, remote
• :41.040> learning, we we had to go to online learning, we we had to go to online learning, remote
• 37:43.359> and<00:37:43.599> even<00:37:43.839> though<00:37:44.000> I remote
• Um, and even though I remote learning.
• First, we have our remote testifier, Mark Granit, president of Viking Bank of Alexandria.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I believe I have a remote testifier, Karen Barton.
• I believe I have a remote testifier, Karen Barton.
• I believe I have a remote testifier, Karen Barton.
• I believe I have a remote testifier, Karen Barton.
• I believe I have a remote testifier, Karen Barton.

Bills: HF1746, HF2585, HF1159, HF2574, HF2839, HF157, HF158, HF160, HF338, HF512

Keywords: Oakdale, tax increment financing, local government, funding, urban development, tax increment, St. Paul, redevelopment, housing authority, housing trust fund, low-income housing, property taxation, Minnesota statutes, vacant property, housing, commercial to residential conversion, Minneapolis, urban redevelopment, public parks, tax capacity

Transcript Highlights:

• question is, with what we heard in testimony here, we're dealing with a critical access hospital in a remote
• /c><00:21:53.600> Hospital<00:21:54.440> in<00:21:54.559> a<00:21:54.760> remote
• critical access Hospital in a remote critical access Hospital in a remote area<00:21:56.320>
• question is, with what we heard in testimony here, we're dealing with a critical access hospital in a remote

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, and note we do have a quorum present at this time, and we have two members that are remote: Representative
• Sencer-Mura and Representative Hill cannot be with us, so they'll be here remotely.
• I thought maybe that was one of our remote people. Absolutely, just about ready to wrap up.
• I thought maybe that was one of our remote people. Absolutely, just about ready to wrap up. Mr.
• But with that, we’ll go to Representative Hill remotely. Thank you, Chair.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Make sure you keep that remote testimony because that matters. It matters that our voice is heard.
• Make sure you keep that<01:26:30.000> remote<01:26:30.480> testimony that remote testimony
• that remote testimony because<01:26:32.400> that<01:26:32.719> matters.
• I never expected to begin legislating remotely during a global pandemic or to end legislating with such
• The argument for motans It appears at times we are very divided.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House met with a quorum present, approved the previous day’s journal, and welcomed an honored guest, Kenyan Parliament member Joshua Aduma Aore, introduced by Representative Momanyi-Hiltsley. The main business of the day was a series of retirement speeches from departing members, with the chamber proceeding in seniority order. Representative Perryman said she was leaving the House to run for the Senate and reflected on four years of service, thanking constituents, family, colleagues, and staff. She emphasized integrity, compassion, and the belief that people in public office share more in common than what divides them. Representative Perez Vega gave a lengthy farewell centered on her identity, district, and legislative priorities, thanking staff and colleagues and highlighting work on drivers’ licenses for all, housing justice, the Read Act, ethnic studies, workforce development, and funding for a Minnesota Latino Museum. She also spoke about the importance of representation, community, and continuing to fight for children, families, and immigrant communities. Representative Weiner said his time in the House had been educational and urged less division, more civility, and a return to public service over party conflict. He cited George Washington’s warnings about factions, said he would carry a calmer voice to the Senate, and argued for more single-subject bills and against careerism in office. Representative Bakeberg thanked members, staff, and his family, spoke about faith and service, and said his work was motivated by constituents and by the example of children visiting the Capitol. Representative Ryer also thanked staff and colleagues, reflected on serving during COVID and after George Floyd’s murder, and listed policy successes and disappointments, including medical debt reform, rare disease treatment, Medicaid dental support, housing and bonding, solar on public buildings, and soil and water funding; she also criticized failures on immigrant protections, disability services, and gun violence measures, and called for protecting human rights, voting rights, and democratic norms. No votes or formal legislative actions were taken beyond the journal approval and recognition of guests and speakers.

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of teachers have moved part of their curriculum online as they had to when we were in remote instruction

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely. Finicky. Yes. Finicky votes aye.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• The clerk will call the name of the member voting remotely. Fogelman. Go ahead. Fogelman votes no.

Transcript Highlights:

• In getting that started around the state for youth to do it remotely.

Bills: SB305, SB109, SB122, SB111, SB114, SB113, SB150, SB112, SB289, SB303

Keywords: education funding, RAISE Act, student outcomes, public schools, local education agencies, accountability, weighted allocations, special education, English language learners, gifted students, Tuskegee University, Alabama Education Trust Fund, appropriation, agricultural research, Southern Preparatory Academy, fiscal responsibility, financial reporting, Education Savings Accounts, RAISE Fund, CHOOSE Act Fund

Transcript Highlights:

• But with this remote issuance of driver license, we'll be. a game changer for DPS because we can hire

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• captured] [No audible content captured] [Applause] The clerk will call the names of the members voting remotely

Keywords: 1183, house