Transcript Highlights:

• I'm sorry, what bill are we on? It is House Bill 4114. 4114, 4114.
• House Bill 3841 is a much-needed transparency and accountability bill.
• I'm here to speak for House Bill 5108.
• In conclusion, House Bill 5663.
• On the bill, House Bill 5611, this is the one I'm handling now.

Bills: HB2814 , HB4477 , HB5084 , HB5108 , HB5127 , HB5383 , HB5611 , HB5663 , HB5664 , SB1563 , HB2668 , HB3841 , HB4114

Committee: House S/C on County & Regional Government

Keywords: juvenile justice, release documents, children, identification, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, civil service, staffing requirements, local government, positions exemption, Texas legislation, fireworks, Lunar New Year, retail permits, public safety, Texas law, holiday sales, HB 5108, deaths in custody, custodial death, jail death

Transcript Highlights:

• The House bill relative to professional employer organizations, House No. 2113.
• This chair has been informed that House Bill 4031 has been released by the Committee on Bills in the
• The Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, to whom was referred the Senate amendment of the House Bill
• The Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, to whom was referred the Senate amendment of House Bill
• The Committee on Bills in the Third Reading, to whom was referred the Senate amendment of House Bill

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several committee reports and routine procedural matters. It adopted a resolution congratulating the Warren Public Library on its 150th anniversary and approved an order extending the reporting deadline for the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development to March 18, 2026. The House also suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow a petition on access to applied behavior analysis services in schools to go to the Committee on Education. The chamber then acted on a number of bills and local matters. It passed to enact Senate 2799, establishing a sick leave bank for Jeffrey Yacanthi of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and House 4233, amending the charter of the city of Malden. The House also concurred in Senate amendments to House 4031, increasing the age limit for retired police officers serving as special police officers in Weston, and House 4401, dissolving a special fund in Athol. In addition, it ordered several bills to a third reading, including measures on professional employer organizations, Boston Police Department age waivers for several named applicants, and continued employment of Rochester Fire Chief Scott Weigel. The House briefly observed a silent tribute requested by Representative Beal for retired Associate Justice and former State Representative Michael F. Flaherty Sr., who had recently died. The session ended after the House agreed to adjourn until the following Monday at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House bill relative to electronic scanning of identifications, House No. 3716.
• The House bill directing the City of Boston Police Department to The House bill directing the City of
• Notwithstanding the maximum age requirement, House No. 4390, local approval received, and the House bill
• The Chair is informed that House Bill 1068 has been released by the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading
• The Chair is informed that House Bill 3928 has been released by the Committee on Bills in the Third Reading

Summary: The House convened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several Committee on Rules reports and related procedural orders. Members adopted a resolution recognizing the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The House also adopted multiple orders extending committee reporting deadlines, including for the Election Laws, Environment and Natural Resources, and Revenue committees, and concurred in Senate petitions after suspending Joint Rule 12 for several matters. The chamber then advanced a series of local and House bills. After suspending Rule 7A, the House ordered several bills to a third reading, including measures on electronic scanning of identifications, police age-limit waivers or civil service eligibility for named individuals in Boston and Haverhill, and a bill on the contracting of digital replicas. Later, the House passed to be engrossed bills including a Department of Conservation and Recreation Title IX compliance bill and additional police-related local bills, and passed to be enacted a land conveyance bill for Wellesley and other enacted measures such as Tuskegee Airmen Commemoration Day, a Fall River police chief appointment bill, a Seekonk charter amendment, and a Billerica police age-limit bill. The House also adopted an order for a joint convention with the Senate to receive the Governor’s communication on January 22, 2026. At the end of the session, members adopted an order to meet again Thursday at 11 a.m. and a special adjournment in memory of Arthur H. Tobin, former Quincy legislator, mayor, and clerk magistrate. The House then adjourned to meet Thursday next at 11 a.m. in an informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• So House Bill 932, Senate Bill 325, and then Senate Bill 323. With that, member from Poultney.
• </c><00:11:16.440><c> Bill</c><00:11:16.600><c> 932,</c> The first will be House Bill 932, The first
• So House Bill agricultural subjects.
• So House Bill 932,<00:11:47.200><c> Senate</c><00:11:47.560><c> Bill</c><00:11:48.200><c> 325,</c><00
• </c><00:12:00.400><c> Bill</c><00:12:00.600><c> 932,</c> The proposal of amendment on House Bill 932,

Transcript Highlights:

• Read the House bill: House Bill 5001, a bill to be entitled an act making appropriations.
• Read the bill third time: House Bill 5001, a bill to be entitled an act making appropriations.
• Read the House bill: House Bill 503, a bill to be entitled an act implementing the 2026-2027 General
• Read the House bill: House Bill 5201.
• Read the House bill: House Bill 5401, a bill to be entitled an act relating to trust funds of the state

Summary: The Senate took up the 2026-2027 budget and related implementing bills. Appropriations Chair Hooper presented a $115 billion General Appropriations Bill, saying it reduces overall spending from the prior year, preserves reserves, and includes a 3% raise for state employees and 5% raises for state law enforcement, firefighters, correctional officers, and park rangers. Committee chairs then outlined major budget areas, including K-12 education, higher education, health and human services, criminal and civil justice, transportation/tourism/economic development, and environmental/agricultural agencies. Highlights included increased funding for school safety, teacher and scholarship funding, workforce education, Medicaid and kid care, corrections operations, judgeships, affordable housing, hurricane recovery, Everglades and water quality projects, and arts and cultural grants. Members asked detailed questions about several items. Senators discussed the Emergency Management Trust Fund, cultural arts grant allocations, Florida Forever land acquisition versus conservation easements, teacher salary support, charter school capital outlay funding, Bright Futures and EASE funding, New College funding, DOC deficits and inmate health care/food service costs, the ADAP HIV drug program, Medicaid reductions for non-critical access hospitals, and the use of opioid settlement and COVID relief funds. Chairs explained that some apparent reductions reflected shifts below the line or reclassification, that the ADAP appropriation would only cover about six months, and that some vacant positions were being removed as part of a right-sizing effort. Questions also covered lottery staffing, concealed weapons permit processing, elections security funding, and arts grant selection and proviso language. The Senate then substituted House bills for the Senate budget and implementing measures, amended them into the Senate posture, and passed them. HB 5001 (the appropriations bill), HB 503 (implementing bill), HB 5201 (collective bargaining), and HB 5205 (retirement) all passed 36-0 and were sent to conference. Other budget-related bills also passed, including SB 2506 on fuel taxes, SB 2508 on the state agency law enforcement radio system surcharge, SB 2510 on court trust funds, SB 2512 creating 13 circuit and 12 county judgeships, SB 2514 on K-12 education, SB 2516 on higher education, and SB 2518 on health. Most of these passed unanimously, with the Senate requesting the House either pass the Senate versions or include them in budget conference.

Transcript Highlights:

• House Bill 148 is a common-sense bill.
• </c> shall House Bill 148 become law. shall House Bill 148 become law.
• House Bill 319.
• House Bill 319. Uh, I wanted to explain House Bill 319.
• Shall House Bill 613 become law. veto. Shall House Bill 613 become law.

Transcript Highlights:

• Governor's Council for House Bill 195 last year.
• Yeah, Madam Chair, so he has the Senate companion bill to the House Bill.
• I'm the House sponsor of the House Bill. He's the Senate sponsor of the Senate Bill.
• I bring you House Bill 494.
• We still have our header a few bills back, but we are moving to House Bill 494.

Committee: House House Taxation & Revenue

Transcript Highlights:

• , House Bill 1429, House Bill 1416, House Bill 1431, House Bill 1422, House Bill 1426, House Bill 1063
• ><c> Bill</c><00:58:46.799><c> 1429,</c> House Bill 1433, House Bill 1429, House Bill 1433, House Bill
• ><c> Bill</c><00:58:51.280><c> 1431,</c> House Bill 1416, House Bill 1431, House Bill 1416, House Bill
• 1431, House<00:58:53.119><c> Bill</c><00:58:53.520><c> 1422,</c> House Bill 1422, House Bill 1422, House
• ><c> Bill</c><00:58:58.400><c> 1063,</c> House Bill 1063, House Bill 1063, House<00:59:00.240><c> Bill

Transcript Highlights:

• Code; House Bill 5171, removing the treasurer as acting mayor in the Holyoke Charter; and House Bill
• Second reading of the bills: House Bill 4914, an act relative to the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial
• Code; House Bill 5171, an act removing the treasurer as acting mayor in the Holyoke Charter; and House
• The House bill, relative to the Massachusetts Uniform, by the House.
• The House bill, relative to the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code, House No. 4914.

Summary: The House began with routine ceremonial business, including adoption of resolutions congratulating Judy and Dick Jolin on their 50th wedding anniversary and commending the National Brain Tumor Society for Brain Tumor Awareness Month. The chamber also welcomed guests recognizing Apraxia Awareness Day. A gubernatorial message proposing injured-on-duty compensation for Chelmsford firefighter Nicholas Spinale was filed and referred to the Committee on Public Service. The House concurred in several Senate petitions referred under suspension of Joint Rule 12, including measures on consumer-connected devices, crumbling concrete relief for homeowners, and naming the Hianus Transportation Center. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 for a petition on reporting crimes to law enforcement, and for a quantum science tax incentive petition, which was then referred to the Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. The Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling placed three House bills on the calendar: the Massachusetts Uniform Commercial Code, a Holyoke Charter change removing the treasurer as acting mayor, and a Kingston measure raising the maximum retirement age for special police officers to 70. The House then advanced and passed to be enacted three engrossed bills concerning Andover special town meetings, the Plymouth town charter, and an additional all-alcoholic-beverages license for Pembroke. It also passed to be engrossed bills on expanded small property tax abatements in Auburn, validation of the New Salem annual town election, and land acquisition/disposition in Falmouth. Finally, the House adopted an order to adjourn to meet the following Monday at 11 a.m., and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Carter, please move House Bill 2313. Mr.
• Vice Chair Carter, please move House Bill 2697. Mr.
• House Bill 2912—this is about the Corporation Commission. Mr. Fleming, I'm sorry, House Bill 2912.
• Vice Chairman, please move House Bill 2991. Mr.
• Chair, Carter, please move House Bill 4010. Mr.

Summary: The committee considered a series of bills and resolutions for constitutional and proper-form review, with Tim Fleming from the Rules Attorney’s Office flagging potential issues and suggesting floor amendments in several cases. House Bill 2313, dealing with teachers’ strikes and work stoppages, was found to raise a pension-rights problem under the state constitution because it could diminish retirement benefits; the suggested fix was to remove the words “or former employment.” The committee also reviewed House Bill 2697 on opioid overdose emergencies and related immunity provisions, House Bill 2912 concerning Corporation Commission review of integrated resource plans for electric utilities, House Bill 2991 on parental consent for minors’ social media accounts, House Bill 4010 regulating genetic counselors and conscience protections, and House Bill 4115 and HCR 2051 regarding petition circulator identification requirements. In each of those measures, the rules attorney identified constitutional concerns tied to anti-abrogation, separation of powers/rate-making authority, First Amendment issues, or lawsuit-threat language, but indicated proposed amendments could resolve them. Members asked questions and debated the constitutional analysis, especially on HB 2912 and HB 2991. On HB 2912, one member argued the bill concerned policy and modeling rather than rate-setting, while others noted the complexity of the commission’s authority. On HB 2991, the sponsor said the measure had been under negotiation for months and was intended to avoid constitutional conflict, though the rules attorney said the First Amendment case law was not yet well developed. For HB 4010, the committee focused on a provision that could prohibit threatening a lawsuit against a genetic counselor, which the attorney said should be removed. For HB 4115 and HCR 2051, the attorney cited Buckley v. American Constitutional Law Foundation as a reason to delete the petition-circulator name-disclosure requirement. The committee voted to recommend each of the individually discussed measures as constitutional and in proper form, generally by 4-2 votes with two absent, including HB 2313, HB 2697, HB 2912, HB 2991, HB 4010, and HB 4115/HCR 2051. At the end of the meeting, the committee approved a large mass motion covering many additional bills and resolutions, and that package was recommended by a 6-0 vote with two absent. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House voted to suspend Rule 7. Second reading of the bills.
• bills be scheduled for consideration by the house.
• Bills have been rightly and truly prepared, and now before the House for final passage: House 5245, an
• The bill is passed to be engrossed. Chair has been informed that House 47...
• The bill is passed to be enacted. The House is now in order. Mr.

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and then adopted several resolutions, including commendations for Praxia Awareness Day and congratulations to an Eagle Scout. It also suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow a Barnstable petition concerning regulation of vessel transportation in Marston Mills and Osterville to go to the Committee on Transportation. The House then took up a Steering, Policy and Scheduling report and advanced three bills: a Westford local option liquor license bill, a Westfield liquor license conversion bill, and a sick leave bank bill for Carla Johnson of the Department of Unemployment Assistance. All were ordered to a third reading. The House later considered and passed several measures, including a sick leave bank for Courtney Cochran of the Department of Children and Families, a Senate bill allowing Taunton to establish a separate water billing rate for manufactured housing, and a Hope Dale bill creating the office of town administrator. It also engrossed a Chelmsford bridge naming bill and a Sudbury senior property tax exemption bill. On Senate 2544, concerning the number of registered voters needed to petition for a special town meeting in Andover, the House adopted an amendment adding an immediate effective date before passing it to be engrossed as amended. The chamber observed a moment of silence in memory of Phyllis Simon of South Boston, described as a longtime educator and public servant. At the end of the session, the House adopted an order to adjourn and then adjourned to meet the following Monday at 11 a.m. in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• The House bill relative to excise upon the transfer of parking spaces in the City of Salem, House No.
• The House bill authorizing the Town of Auburn to offer expanded senior property tax abatements, House
• The House bill relative to the excise upon the transfer of parking spaces in the City of Salem, House
• The Chair has been informed that House Bill 4476 has been released by the Committee on Bills in Third
• The Chair has been informed that House Bill 4476 has been released by the Committee on Bills in Third

Summary: The House began with the Pledge of Allegiance and then took up several routine matters. The Committee on Rules recommended adoption of resolutions honoring William B. O’Leary on his 100th birthday, congratulating Ethan Ho on earning Eagle Scout rank, and celebrating the 150th anniversary of St. Paul’s Church of Palmer. The House suspended the rules and adopted the resolutions. It also concurred with a Senate referral of a petition concerning retirement benefits for Alec Simonello to the Committee on Public Service. The House then considered local bills reported by the Committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling, including measures concerning an excise on parking space transfers in Salem, expanded senior property tax abatements in Auburn, a means-tested senior property tax exemption in Sudbury, and land acquisition/disposition in Falmouth. After suspending Rule 7A, the House gave these bills second and third readings and ordered them to a third reading. The chamber also passed to enactment several engrossed bills, including firefighter and police age-exemption bills for Haverhill, a Williamsburg board-name change to select board, a Sandwich overpass memorial designation, and a Chicopee charter change to gender-neutral language. The House then acted on additional third-reading bills, passing to enactment a bill allowing Kenneth Navarro to take the Haverhill firefighter exam despite the maximum age requirement, and passing to engrossment bills for William Rob Cargill’s firefighter exam eligibility and special meetings of the Holyoke City Council. On Senate Bill 1859, concerning retirement for Walter L. Gerton, Representative Walsh offered and the House adopted an amendment substituting text from House Document 5331, after which the bill was passed to engrossment as amended. Finally, the House adopted an order to meet the following Monday at 11 a.m. and adjourned to that time in informal session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Brookfield, House Bill 5379.
• House Bill 5379. Question now is on ordering the bills to a third reading.
• The House concurs as amended. House concurs as amended. House Bill 5478.
• The following bill, rightly and truly prepared, is now before the House for final passage: House Bill
• The following bill, rightly and truly prepared, is now before the House for final passage: House Bill

Summary: The House opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted two congratulatory resolutions: one honoring Douglas Fire Chief John J. Furno on his retirement and another recognizing the Appalachian Mountain Club’s 150th anniversary and its conservation and outdoor recreation work. The chamber also suspended Joint Rule 12 to allow several petitions to be referred, including a creditable service petition for Thomas Brooks, a retirement-related petition for Springfield Empowerment Zone teachers, and a bridge designation petition for a bridge in Gardner. The House then took up several bills on the calendar. It ordered to a third reading bills authorizing Berkeley to increase its Board of Selectmen, banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops, and relating to land interests in West Brookfield. It later passed to be engrossed bills authorizing South Hadley to grant additional all-alcohol licenses and Westford to grant an additional off-premises all-alcohol license. After a recess and a moment of silence honoring Constance “Connie” Ellen Kruger of Amherst, the House returned to consider House Bill 5478, a bill creating a temporary summer 2026 pilot allowing municipalities to opt in to extended liquor-license hours and public consumption in designated districts. The House adopted a further amendment, concurred with the Senate as amended, adopted the emergency preamble, and then passed the bill to be enacted. The House also adopted an order to adjourn and recessed until the next formal session on Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• Move on to House Bill 2490.
• Moving on to House Bill 2508.
• Next is House Bill 2532.
• And finally, House Bill 2539. House Bill 2539 is the bill related to inmate funds.
• House Bill 1239, and that Substitute House Bill 1239 be reported out of the committee with a do pass

Bills: HB1239 , HB2310 , HB2490 , HB2508 , HB2510 , HB2532 , HB2539

Committee: House Community Safety

Keywords: reentry, reentry readiness, recidivism, earned release time, good time credits, graduated reentry, community custody, partial confinement, home detention, work release, electronic monitoring, substance use disorder treatment, mental health treatment, corrections, Department of Corrections, DOC, prison reform, sentencing, release date recalculation, transition services

Transcript Highlights:

• We will start with House Bill 2051 now.
• The agency is neutral on House Bill 2051.
• House Bill 2875.
• House Bill 2457 receive a do pass.
• You have given House Bill 2457 a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2953.

Summary: The committee approved the minutes and then heard several bills. HB 2686, sponsored by Rep. Heap, would require physicians performing surgeries at outpatient surgical facilities to annually and whenever changed provide the facility a call-coverage plan, including hospital coverage if applicable, to ensure patients have a known physician contact for complications; it passed 6-0 with one not voting. HB 2051 would require AHCCCS contractors, subject to CMS approval, to cover breastfeeding and lactation services in inpatient, outpatient, home-based, and group settings; supporters described the bill as improving maternal and infant health and AHCCCS said it was neutral with an estimated $1.8 million general fund cost, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. HB 2837, a transparency bill for municipal zoning hearings, would require speakers to disclose compensation for testimony and require certain board members or hearing officers to disclose and recuse for recent ties to entities appearing before them; it passed 6-0 with one not voting. The committee also approved HB 2875, as amended, which clarifies local authority over commercial drone delivery systems and related land-use and zoning issues, including near airports; Zipline and industry supporters backed the bill as providing regulatory clarity, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting after adoption of the amendment. HB 2324 would let cities with their own fire codes, through an intergovernmental agreement, enforce those codes on county-owned buildings in city limits, with reporting requirements to the State Fire Marshal; county and fire-management representatives supported the measure as a clarification of jurisdiction, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. HB 2439 would exempt single-user public or semi-public cold plunges from ADEQ pool rules, but the committee adopted an amendment removing ADEQ rulemaking authority; supporters said the bill would reduce confusion and regulatory burden, while one senator opposed it over public-health concerns, and it passed 4-2 with one not voting. HB 2457 would allow utilities to build certain co-located power plants without a certificate of environmental compatibility after notice and a public comment session, which opponents said would reduce public review and transparency for power plant siting, while supporters said it would streamline power development; it passed 4-2 with one not voting. Finally, HB 2953 would cap certain nondisciplinary and disciplinary civil penalties imposed by the State Board of Pharmacy at $25,000 in specified circumstances; a supporter said it matched limits used elsewhere and gave the board authority to use nondisciplinary actions, and it passed 6-0 with one not voting. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Bill 1322; Senate Bill 115; House Bill 1123; House Bill 1226; House Bill 1210, laid over until May 4th
• House Bill House Bill 1252 as amended.
• Bill 115, House Bill Bill 1322, Senate Bill 115, House Bill 1123,<03:10:34.880><c> House</c><03:10:35.120
• ><c> 1210,</c> 1123, House Bill 1226, House Bill 1210, 1123, House Bill 1226, House Bill 1210, laid<03
• House Bill 1421. amended. House Bill 1421.

Transcript Highlights:

• 1068, House Bill 1027, and House Bill 1045.
• </c> House Bill 1068. House Bill 1068.
• </c> House Bill 26 1027. House Bill 26 1027.
• </c> House Bill 1045. House Bill 1045.
• </c> House Bills 10:38 and House Bills 1049. House Bills 10:38 and House Bills 1049.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm here to present to you House Bill 267. I'm here to present to you House Bill 267.
• Without objection, House Bill 1195. 795 favorably. Without objection, House Bill 1195.
• Without objection, House Bill 917 will be reported favorably. You've got House Bill 1230, sir.
• Turner, you have House Bill 1103. House Bill 1103. You're in good company today, sir. Thank you.
• So it's House Bill 848, whenever you're ready. It's House Bill 848, whenever you're ready.

Summary: The Senate Commerce Committee met on May 13 with a quorum present and approved the prior meeting minutes. The committee then heard and advanced a series of House bills, many of them described as modernization or consumer-protection measures. HB 555, as amended, expands the definition of financial exploitation under the Protection of Eligible Adults from Financial Exploitation Act, adds training and transaction-delay provisions for financial institutions, and was reported favorably after technical and substantive amendments. HB 1166 creates a disclosure form for vacant residential property transactions and was also reported favorably. HB 267, which changes how candidates for the Louisiana Board of Home Inspectors are submitted to the governor, and HB 1195, which updates rules and penalties for athletic contests, exhibitions, and sports-agent/NIL regulation, were each moved favorably without objection. The committee also advanced several licensing and regulatory bills. HB 917 modernizes life safety and property protection licensing by reducing burdens on some employees and moving to a three-year license cycle; it was reported favorably. HB 1230 overhauls Louisiana’s money transmission laws, replacing older statutes with a new framework for digital payments and stronger consumer protections; a technical amendment was adopted and the bill was reported as amended. HB 1103, described as opening Louisiana for business in certain commerce areas, was reported favorably. HB 478 requires utility bills to clearly label and reimburse overcharges within 90 days and was reported favorably. HB 1096 gives electric cooperatives an opt-out from a prior law allowing boards to amend bylaws without member approval, and HB 921 modernizes private security licensing while restoring penalties for unlicensed activity; both were reported favorably, with HB 921 amended. HB 548 adds CPA licensure pathways to help address shortages, especially in rural areas, and was also reported favorably. Several bills drew more extensive discussion. HB 670 would promote wood pellet manufacturing and related workforce development; supporters argued it could create jobs and help manage timber waste, while an opponent warned about pollution, environmental violations, and the risks of biomass facilities. Committee members raised concerns about permitting and environmental oversight, but the bill was ultimately reported favorably, with discussion of possible follow-up with DEQ. HB 259, dealing with BEAD broadband projects, extends notice requirements before excavation, requires coordination with utility operators, and addresses damage reimbursement; an amendment was adopted and the bill was reported as amended. HB 848 clarifies repair obligations for ATV and golf cart sellers, aiming to ensure consumers have meaningful repair access and to level the playing field between small dealers and big-box retailers; it was reported favorably after questions about enforcement and service requirements. The committee also heard HB 672 and HB 670 as economic-development measures tied to brick manufacturing and wood pellets, respectively, and both were moved favorably. At the end of the meeting, the chair announced that remaining bills would be carried over to the following week, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• of a bill with the same title, House Number 5491.
• The bill is ordered to a third reading as amended. House at ease for a brief recess.
• The House being informed that House No. 5388 has been released by the Committee on Bills in the Third
• The bill is passed to be engrossed as amended. House at ease for a brief recess.
• The bill has passed to be engrossed. House will be in recess.

Summary: The House began with routine ceremonial business, including the Pledge of Allegiance, adoption of several congratulatory resolutions, and suspension of Joint Rule 12 to send two petitions to committee. It then took up a supplemental fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill (H. 5393 / H. 5493), which Ways and Means reported at about $227.3 million for items including snow and ice costs, no-cost calls, substance use services, homeless programs, and technical changes related to lottery revenue and other outside sections. The bill was advanced through second and third reading and later passed to be engrossed after a roll call vote. The chamber also passed to engrossment a land transfer bill for the Town of Marion (H. 5388) and a Bolton alcohol licensing bill (S. 2628, as amended). The House also enacted two local bills: one further regulating special meetings of the Holyoke City Council and one amending the charter of the town of Reading. A major floor debate centered on S. 2726, an act regarding free expression, which was framed by supporters as a response to book challenges and censorship in public and school libraries. Supporters, including Representatives Garballey and Moran, argued the bill would protect librarians, require reporting of book challenges, preserve age-appropriate access to materials, and keep challenged books on shelves during review; opponents raised concerns about parental rights and local control. Several amendments were offered and rejected, including one that would have removed a criminal-law protection for librarians and educators, and another that would have shifted school review authority more directly to elected school committees. Two amendments were adopted: one clarifying that challenged material is considered in its entirety, and another narrowing who may initiate certain complaints to parents or guardians of a student in the school. The bill ultimately passed to be engrossed by a large roll call vote. The House also debated and passed H. 5491 / S. 1646, implementing recommendations of the Walsh Kennedy Commission on hot work safety after the 2014 Beacon Street fire. Supporters said the bill would require certification for hot work, strengthen penalties for repeated or reckless violations, and improve public notification and enforcement to prevent future tragedies; the bill passed to be engrossed unanimously or near-unanimously after roll call. In addition, the chamber advanced a local land transfer for the Yankee Doodle Bike Path in Billerica and a bill concerning ownership and maintenance of culverts and dams in Town Line Brook and Lindenbrook. The session included several recesses, quorum checks, and recognition of guests, including Danvers High School graduates, a former state representative, and WGBH representatives for Public Media Awareness Day.

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, the house doesn't have a bill. >> So, I would like to uh, you know, I know bills have been heard
• </c><00:04:51.520><c> and</c> bills have been heard in the house and bills have been heard in the house
• , what's in the bill on the other house. >> Thank you, Commissioner.
• house, what's in the bill on the other<00:08:22.680><c> house.
• And the House doesn't have a bill yet.