Video & Transcript Research : 'conduct'
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MN
Minnesota 2025 1st Special Session
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection - 02/13/25
Commerce and Consumer Protection
Transcript Highlights:
- insurance and allow the department to issue insurance-related data calls without using the market conduct
- <00:42:14.920>
uh for mortgage servicing conduct uh for mortgage servicing conduct uh conduct - > consumer<00:42:16.119>
protections <00:42:17.079>and <00:42:17.240>add conduct - examination process right now we conduct examination process right now we use<00:42:56.160>
an - by the auto show uh Mr chair conducted by the auto show uh Mr chair uh<02:08:20.239>
this <02: - by the auto show uh Mr chair conducted by the auto show uh Mr chair uh<02:08:20.239>
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Education Policy and Administration (05/27/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- We have added a section in 193-F:4 in relation to the code of conduct and violations.
- And there are already school codes of conduct around physical harm, right? That would apply.
- educator code of conduct into this. educator code of conduct into this.
- <01:51:54.320>
finishing are are important for conduct finishing are are important for conduct - This is an educator code of conduct violation.
Summary:
The committee opened hearings on SB 69, including a germane amendment on school board votes to accept or reject gifts and donations, and a non-germane amendment creating a virtual early childhood readiness family engagement program for preschool children not yet in kindergarten. Prime sponsor Rep. Glenn Cordelli said the literacy program was modeled on earlier HB 671, would be funded through gifts and donations rather than state appropriations, and would include reporting requirements to the governor and legislature. Members questioned changes from the earlier bill, including the move away from center-based language, the lack of a dollar threshold for school board action on donations, anonymous gifts, and whether the amendment preserved enough evaluation data.
Testimony on the donation provisions raised concerns about broad language, timing, and public-meeting requirements. Rep. Timothy Han and Becky Wilson of the New Hampshire School Boards Association both noted that school districts already have policies and asked how the bill would work for routine donations, anonymous gifts, and situations that might require non-public discussion under right-to-know law. Wilson cited examples such as field-trip scholarships, backpack drives, and sports uniforms, and said the association was not taking a position but wanted clearer guardrails. Rep. Han said school boards may need to discuss some gifts in non-public session and that the bill should better address those circumstances.
On the early literacy amendment, Wilson and others questioned whether the program was sufficiently developed, whether it was appropriate to rely on a primarily online model for very young children, and how it would interact with special education services and IEPs. A representative from Waterford.org, Rob Riley, testified in support, saying the program would be supplementary, adaptive, and family-engagement based, and that Waterford could provide devices and internet access for families who need them. He said the program would work alongside school districts and IEP teams rather than replace existing services. No vote was taken during the hearing; the chair said the committee would later exec the bills and try to get reports in for the calendar.
NH
New Hampshire 2026 Regular Session
JLCAR Administrative Rules (06/19/2026)
Transcript Highlights:
- a safe vehicle inspection, that they did not conduct that, and that they recommend the safety of the
- a safe vehicle that they conducted a safe vehicle inspection,<01:34:10.880>
that <01:34:11.120 - , that they did not conduct inspection, that they did not conduct that,<01:34:12.960>
and <01:34 - <02:31:20.600>
letter <02:31:20.920>in <02:31:21.000>their some bad conduct - letter in their some bad conduct letter in their permanent<02:31:21.600>
file, <02:31:22.360>
Summary:
The meeting began with quorum and seating issues, including the temporary appointment of Representative Shaw to fill in for a House member, followed by approval of the previous minutes and the consent calendar. Two items were then postponed to next month: Mechanical Licensing Board item 25-241 and Board of Veterinarian item 25-223.
The committee then took up Department of Energy rulemaking on distributed energy resources interconnection procedures, including items 25-220 and related sections on fees, additional controls, and equipment. The Department explained revised language to address concerns that the original draft improperly suggested agency or PUC approval of utility fees; under the amended language, utilities would set fees designed to recover costs, with complaints handled through existing complaint procedures. Committee members and the Department discussed the statutory basis for that approach, including cost responsibility versus fee-setting authority.
Public testimony was mixed. A small solar developer argued the rules still exceed statutory authority, impose unfair costs on customer generators, and allow utilities to shift transmission-related study costs onto interconnecting customers. Clean energy advocates supported the Department’s revised language but asked for clearer limits on charging customers for later-added controls, arguing costs should be tied directly to the customer’s interconnection and not to later utility-driven changes. Eversource supported the revised fee language, said most prior concerns were resolved, and recommended conditional approval, while also suggesting a minor wording change in the “Additional Equipment” section to clarify that only operational performance is covered.
TX
Texas 89th 2nd C.S.
The July 2025 Flooding Events, General Investigating Apr 28th, 2026
The July 2025 Flooding Events, General Investigating
Transcript Highlights:
- Within 48 hours, we will conduct drills for our campers and staff.
- If they did conduct drills, how did they verify those drills?
- If they did conduct drills, how did they verify those drills?
- But yes, I mean, we review, we conduct an inspection, and we review.
- We review, we conduct an inspection, and we review the application.
KY
Kentucky 2026 Regular Session
House Legislative Session Day 48 (3-17-26)
Kentucky House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- That review is conducted by the same chief justice that now reviews such requests, but without first
- of an judicial conduct standard of an appearance<01:45:20.960>
of <01:45:21.199>bias <01 - That<01:45:24.719>
review <01:45:25.040>is <01:45:25.199>conducted <01:45:25.600> by <01:45:25.840>the <01:45:26.080>same That review is conducted by the same That- ,<02:21:07.520>
our <02:21:07.840>justice in the chain of conduct, our justice in the
MS
Mississippi 2026 Regular Session
MS Senate Floor - 5 March, 2026; 10:00 AM
Mississippi Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- What this do, it'll create a study committee that will conduct a comprehensive review of current sales
- a comprehensive review of conduct a comprehensive review of current<00:30:04.640>
sales <00:30 - House Bill 314, Ibogaine authorized SDH to select consortium to conduct a drug developmental clinical
- House Bill 314, Ibogaine authorized SDH to select consortium to conduct a drug developmental clinical
- <00:52:40.080>
a SDH to select consortium to conduct a SDH to select consortium to conduct
Summary:
The Senate convened with a quorum, opened with an invocation by Dr. Ryan Wade and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then handled routine business by dispensing with the reading of the journal and committee reports. Several guests were recognized, including Leadership Jackson County, Farm Bureau members, a doctor of the day, adult educators, and other visitors in the gallery. Senator Brumfield also announced support efforts for Senator Warren Barnett, asking members to contribute to him through Ms. Anita Jackson.
The chamber then considered a series of House bills, most of them taken up with strike-all amendments and passed by use of the morning roll call. Measures included HB 1390 on personal services funding allocations, HB 1571 on ARPA funds and unexpended balances, HB 1655 on the State Aid Road Construction director’s personnel status, HB 1650 on dormant state accounts and pooled investments, HB 1651 on state agencies using other agencies’ facilities and charging 50% of fair market value, HB 1345 on administrative forfeiture of illegal cigarette and vaping products, HB 1386 on allowing sidewalks as an eligible use of municipal infrastructure funds, HB 671 on alcoholic beverage delivery responsibility ending when retailers transfer possession to delivery services, and HB 1385 on eliminating paper-original homestead exemption submissions. Members asked questions on several bills, especially about whether the fairgrounds language in HB 1651 would affect youth livestock shows and whether HB 1386 or other measures would change county revenue; sponsors generally said the bills were intended to address state-agency use, municipal reporting, or administrative efficiency rather than alter those programs.
The Senate also advanced HB 898, creating a sales tax diversion study committee to review misallocated municipal sales tax revenues, assess impacts, examine technology and oversight, and recommend reforms by the 2027 session; Senator Hill questioned whether counties should be included, but the sponsor said that would be a separate policy decision. Later, the Senate reconsidered HB 1265, the Mississippi Debt Management Services Act extended repealer, adopted an amendment to remove the repealer instead of extending it, and then passed the bill. The body also took up SB 2632, the local governments disaster recovery emergency loan program, and voted not to concur and to invite conference. Finally, HB 1142 on bench warrant notices was called up; the sponsor explained a strike-all that would replace certified mail with personal service or electronic transmission and include a reverse repealer for further conference work.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
Senate Health and Human Services (04/16/2025)
Health and Human Services
Transcript Highlights:
- Um, you've heard about the cost study that we conducted, not technically us.
- , about the cost study that we conducted, about the cost study that we conducted, not<00:56:02.640
- I know that PCG, the vendor that conducted the study, worked as quickly as they could.
- <00:56:39.760>
the that PCG, the vendor that conducted the that PCG, the vendor that conducted - <01:26:09.679>
with <01:26:10.000>a similar.9% of were conducted with a similar.9%
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Commerce and Consumer Affairs (03/04/2025)
Transcript Highlights:
- You have an ethical obligation under the rules of professional conduct to do this anyway, and there's
- to do this anyway and there's conduct to do this anyway and there's nothing<02:27:04.040>
that - and so if there is something conduct and so if there is something that<02:27:38.600>
would <02- okay all right so starting in conduct okay all right so starting in line line line 16<02:28:16.920><
- It accords with the rules of professional conduct.
- and so if there is something conduct and so if there is something that<02:27:38.600>
Summary:
The subcommittee first reviewed its schedule, noting that 13 bills were being executed the next day and that additional subcommittee work would be scheduled around Town Meeting Day and the following session days. The chair explained that the committee would not meet on Town Meeting Day, would handle the remaining bills on the next available subcommittee day, and would continue any unfinished items later in the month.
The committee then took up House Bill 774, which concerned Medicare-related coverage issues. Members discussed the bill’s purpose and the differences between Medicare standard and Medicare Advantage, with one member saying the proposal was informative but did not offer a workable solution. The committee also moved to inexpedient to legislate on House Bill 185, and the motion passed on a 6-0 vote.
House Bill 241, relating to alternatives to opioids, was retained for further work. Members said the bill raised concerns about insurers effectively practicing medicine and about the lack of evidence on the efficacy of some alternative treatments, while also noting that chiropractic coverage mandates already exist in statute. The committee voted to retain the bill, with the motion passing 6-0.
The most extended discussion was on House Bill 648, which would expand insurance coverage for glucose monitoring. Testimony and committee comments focused on whether coverage should be tied to insulin use or instead to a physician’s medical judgment, the role of continuous glucose monitoring for people with type 2 diabetes who are not on insulin, and the potential cost impact. An insurance department fiscal analyst said the original $22-per-member estimate was based on the unamended bill and that the amended version would require updated analysis; members agreed to retain the bill to narrow the eligible population and revisit the language later.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Session (Full Formal without Calendar) Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Massachusetts Senate Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- And finally, a study on the feasibility of conducting a background check through the National Crime Information
- transparency and the importance of conference committees that are inclusive and, to the greatest extent, conducted
Summary:
The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a brief recognition of guests participating in the Young Announcers Program, including students and community leaders from Urban Heat 98.1 FM, 365 Dad, and Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter School. The chamber then took up House No. 58, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill focused largely on emergency assistance shelter funding and related policy changes.
Senator Rogers explained that the agreement appropriates $425 million for the EA shelter system through the rest of FY25 and includes measures intended to reduce caseloads and improve oversight, such as tighter eligibility verification, criminal offender information checks, disclosure of prior convictions, reporting requirements, a study of NCIC background checks, and a plan to phase out hotels and motels. Senator Tarr praised the urgency of the bill but criticized the process, saying the measure was negotiated without a formal conference committee or public report and did not go far enough on reform. The Senate adopted the concurrence and further amendment, then adopted an emergency preamble by a vote of 11-0.
The Senate then took final action on House No. 58, with Senator Tarr requesting a roll call vote. After the call of the yeas and nays, the bill passed to be enacted by a vote of 32-7 and was ordered signed by the President and laid before the Governor. The chamber also adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of State Representative Carol A. Doherty, followed by a moment of silence, and then agreed to adjourn until the next day at 11:00 a.m.
AZ
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Agriculture Committee Jan 14th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- We will not permit conduct that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of legislative
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Agriculture met with two bills on the agenda. The chair opened the hearing with procedural reminders and a brief welcome back for the new year, then moved to AB 52 by Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry, which would codify the California BIPOC Producer Advisory Committee and the California Small-Scale Producer Advisory Committee in statute. The author and a supporting witness said the committees are important to implementing the Farmer Equity Act and ensuring farmers and ranchers of color and small-scale producers have a meaningful role in CDFA policymaking; several organizations testified in support, and no opposition was heard.
The committee then heard AB 230 by Assemblywoman Ransom, which extends the sunset of the Pierce’s disease control program and the Pierce’s disease glassy-wing sharpshooter board to 2037. The author and a representative of the wine grape industry described the program as essential to controlling a disease that threatens grapevines and to supporting research and field efforts funded by federal, industry, and grower assessments. Testimony from the Wine Institute, Family Winemakers of California, California Fresh Fruit Association, and the California Farm Bureau was in support, with no opposition.
Both bills were moved on due pass motions to the Appropriations Committee and approved by the committee. AB 230 received eight aye votes and AB 52 later received seven aye votes after the roll was held open for absent members. The committee then adjourned.
WA
Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session
Senate Business, Financial Services & Trade Jul 9th, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- I appreciate you taking your time out of your schedule and for being here as we continue to conduct business
- tribes and states can negotiate Class 3 gaming on tribal lands as permitted by the state and when conducted
Summary:
The Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee held a public hearing on a proposed tribal gaming compact amendment involving the Lummi Nation and the Washington State Gambling Commission. Tina Griffin, director of the Gambling Commission, explained the compact amendment process under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, the role of the commission and legislative ex officio members, and noted that the proposal had reached tentative agreement and would next go to hearings before the commission and the House. She said the commission and tribe have a long-standing collaborative relationship.
Lummi Nation Vice Chairman Terence Adams and other tribal representatives described the tribe’s gaming history and the purpose of the amendment. The proposal would add or update compact provisions for higher table and lottery limits, extension of credit to customers, electronic table games, and conforming definition changes. Tribal representatives said the changes would support tribal governmental services and economic development while maintaining strong regulation and internal controls. Commission staff said similar provisions have already been approved for other tribes and that the tribe would be responsible for setting responsible credit limits and controls, including customer vetting and self-exclusion checks.
Senator Hasegawa asked about how credit would work and what oversight would apply, and staff said they would follow up with more detail. Senator Fortunato clarified that the request was for Lummi to receive provisions already available in other tribal compacts. Committee members also asked about the timing of public comment, and staff said it would be taken at the end of the hearing if any was signed up. No public comment was offered, and the chair closed the hearing without any vote or formal action taken by the committee.
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Utilities and Energy Committee Apr 23rd, 2025
Transcript Highlights:
- In order to hear as much from the public within the limits of our time, we will not permit conduct that
- disrupts or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of legislative proceedings.
Summary:
The Assembly Committee on Utilities and Energy met as a subcommittee because a quorum was not present, and the chair announced 16 measures on the agenda, nine of them on consent. The committee then took up AB 1016 by Assemblymember Gonzalez, which would create a five-year pilot program allowing certain counties with geothermal elements in their general plans to locally permit geothermal plants up to 150 net megawatts through 2030. The author and Imperial County representatives argued the bill would streamline a duplicative permitting process, support local control, and bring jobs, tax revenue, and clean baseload energy development to Imperial County, which they described as facing high unemployment and poverty and having significant geothermal potential.
Supporters included Imperial County officials, Rural County Representatives of California, Independent Energy Producers, and local community representatives. They emphasized the county’s long history of geothermal permitting, its planning efforts, and the economic benefits of projects that could support schools, health care, and community colleges. Opposition came from labor organizations including the California State Pipe Trades Council, Western States Council of Sheet Metal Workers, California Coalition of Utility Employees, State Association of Electrical Workers, and State Building Trades. Their main concern was that shifting permitting from the California Energy Commission to local governments could remove the skilled-and-trained workforce requirement that currently applies to CEC-permitted projects.
Committee members asked about that labor issue, and the author said he intended to work with the opposition coalition to ensure local workers are prioritized and that projects use skilled, trained, California-licensed labor. The discussion ended with the bill still under consideration; no vote was taken in the portion of the hearing provided.
MN
Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session
House Floor Session Apr 10th, 2025
Minnesota House Floor Meeting
Transcript Highlights:
- He supported our nation in one of the toughest operations we have conducted since World War II.
- I appreciate your support for this bill. ...toughest operations we have conducted since World War II.
FL
Florida 2026 Regular Session
Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Mar 24th, 2025
Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development
Transcript Highlights:
- The strike-all requires an MS-4 to conduct annual operation and maintenance inspections, and during the
- inspection, the entity must identify... ...to conduct annual operation and maintenance inspections,
Summary:
The Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development heard four bills. SB 810, as amended, addressed stormwater management and flooding prevention after recent hurricanes by requiring annual inspections of certain municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s) and identifying infrastructure vulnerable to blockage, deterioration, failure, or flooding. Senator Burgess said the amendment narrowed the bill, removed a notice requirement to DEM, and was still being refined with stakeholders and counties; Senator Smith asked about prioritizing high-risk systems and DEP’s role. The committee adopted the amendment, heard one opposition appearance from the Florida Stormwater Association, and reported the bill favorably as C.S. for SB 810.
SB 994 by Senator Collins revised driver education requirements. It would require applicants age 18 and older to complete a traffic law and substance abuse education course unless they had previously been licensed or completed a Department of Education driver’s ed course, and it would require learner’s permit applicants to complete a DHSMV-approved classroom driver education course. The bill had one supportive appearance from A BET Florida and was reported favorably without debate.
The committee also approved two transportation facility designation bills. SB 662 designated a portion of West Beaver Street in Duval County as Harry Frisch Street in honor of the Jacksonville businessman and philanthropist, and SB 706 designated a portion of U.S. 92/Gandy Boulevard as the Senator James A. Sebesta Memorial Highway, recognizing Sebesta’s public service and work on transportation issues. Both bills had no opposition or debate and were reported favorably. The committee then adjourned and noted it would meet again Wednesday to take up additional bills and begin budget rollout.
KY
Kentucky 2025 Regular Session
Senate Standing Committee on Appropriations and Revenue (3-14-25) - Upon Recess
Transcript Highlights:
- Very well, we have a quorum, or duly constituted, to conduct business at this meeting of the Appropriations
- Very well, we have a quorum, or duly constituted, to conduct business at this meeting of the Appropriations
Keywords:
Meeting Start 00:00:00
Roll Call 00:00:00
HB 695 Discussion 00:00:25
HB 695 Vote 00:03:50, 958, all
Summary:
The Appropriations and Revenue Committee met to consider House Bill 695 and first adopted a committee substitute. The substitute made a number of Medicaid-related changes, including adding the Medicaid Oversight Advisory Board, exempting federally required Medicaid changes from needing separate General Assembly authorization, revising the treatment of University Hospitals payment programs, clarifying that the community engagement program is mandatory, moving the Medicaid pharmaceutical rebate fund to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, and narrowing reporting requirements. It also removed provisions on Medicaid coverage for psychoeducational services and replaced them with reporting on behavioral health and substance use disorder service utilization and expenditures.
The substitute further added language allowing the Medicaid program to be administered through fee-for-service, managed care, or other federally permitted delivery systems, incorporated the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Bill, authorized a state plan amendment if needed, and made entities that failed to comply with prior Medicaid managed care reporting requirements ineligible for new MCO contracts. It also shifted responsibility for a behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment scorecard from MCOs to the Department for Medicaid Services. The sponsor noted that all language related to long-term managed care in the waiver program had been removed.
After the explanation, Senator Richardson moved to adopt the substitute and Senator Nunn seconded. The committee then voted to pass the measure favorably; the transcript reflects a roll call with no nays and the bill reported out with favorable expression.
NH
Transcript Highlights:
- So currently the department<01:04:39.839>
uh <01:04:40.000>conducts <01:04:40.400>a< - /c><01:04:40.559>
criminally department uh conducts a criminally department uh conducts a criminally - conduct a uh I I apologize, back up. conduct a uh I I apologize, back up.
- We conducted a survey Policy last week.
- They also conduct a check. Yes, that's why the shall is there. >> That's curious to me as well.
NH
New Hampshire 2025 Regular Session
House Criminal Justice and Public Safety (05/23/2025)
Criminal Justice and Public Safety
CA
California 2025-2026 Regular Session
Assembly Transportation Committee Jun 29th, 2026
Transcript Highlights:
- that disrupts, disturbs, or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of legislative proceedings.
- driver causes a death through vehicular manslaughter and then receives misdemeanor diversion, that conduct
- driver causes a death through vehicular manslaughter and then receives misdemeanor diversion, that conduct
- This bill ensures that even after diversion, the underlying conduct remains recognized for what it is
- SB 953 directly responds to this failure by ensuring that fatal conduct is captured by the DMV point
Summary:
The Assembly Transportation Committee heard several bills focused on active transportation, transit, road safety, and local enforcement. SB 569 would restrict removal or downgrading of bikeways built with state General Fund dollars for at least 20 years, require public hearings before major changes, and was supported by bicycle advocates and some local and environmental groups. The City of Encinitas opposed the bill, arguing it could limit needed safety fixes and should apply only to future projects; committee members discussed whether the bill still allowed safety-based modifications. The bill passed on a due pass vote to Appropriations.
SB 741 would streamline the Low-Carbon Transit Operations Program by reducing administrative burden and giving transit agencies more flexibility to use funds for service improvements, fare programs, and other transit needs while maintaining oversight and disadvantaged community requirements. Transit agencies and advocacy groups supported the measure, saying it would help agencies respond to post-pandemic ridership and financial challenges. The committee approved the bill on a due pass as amended vote to Appropriations.
The committee also heard SB 1167, which would tighten consumer protections by clarifying that high-powered e-motos and similar motor vehicles are not e-bikes, requiring clearer disclosures and labels, and improving crash reporting. Supporters said the bill would reduce confusion and improve safety for riders, pedestrians, and parents; the Motorcycle Industry Council opposed unless amended, arguing the term “e-bike” is used broadly and the bill could affect existing businesses. The bill passed to Appropriations. Later, SB 953, dealing with vehicular manslaughter cases dismissed through misdemeanor diversion, would add DMV points so fatal conduct remains reflected on driving records; the bill was supported by the victim’s family and safety advocates and passed to Appropriations.
The committee then heard SB 1218, which would let local agencies boot vehicles tied to repeated unpaid illegal dumping citations instead of using DMV enforcement. Oakland officials and community groups supported the bill as a needed deterrent, while the ACLU opposed it as punitive debt collection without a sufficient nexus to the vehicle. The bill passed to Appropriations. Finally, SB 739 would revise the Clean Miles Standard for rideshare companies by allowing CARB and CPUC to adjust electric vehicle mileage targets in light of current market conditions; Uber and Lyft supported the flexibility, while clean air advocates began raising concerns about weakening climate goals as the transcript cut off.
MA
Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session
Combatting Antisemitism Jun 21st, 2026 at 01:00 pm
Transcript Highlights:
- obviously so much going on here, and I just think the notion, if someone were to criticize Israel's conduct
- in a war—I am a veteran of the war in Afghanistan—if someone were to criticize our conduct, I don't
- ever any consequences even for serially violating university's own rules in any of these protests, conduct
- in my view, in a time of skyrocketing anti-Semitism, I think that opposing the BDS movement, its conduct
- in my view, in a time of skyrocketing anti-Semitism, I think that opposing the BDS movement, its conduct
Summary:
The meeting began with roll call, approval of the May 5 minutes, and opening remarks thanking commissioners and the public for their attendance. The commission then heard testimony from former Ambassador Alan Solomont, who argued that antisemitism is rising in multiple forms, including white nationalist antisemitism and antisemitism tied to anti-Israel rhetoric after October 7. He said campus antisemitism should be addressed with nuance, distinguishing protected political speech from conduct that targets Jewish students, and warned against weaponizing antisemitism to attack higher education, civil liberties, or federal research funding. He urged the commission to use multiple definitions and frameworks, including IHRA, Nexus, and the Jerusalem Declaration, and to focus on campus-specific solutions, civic education, and civil discourse. Commissioners asked him about Tufts’ antisemitism training, the role of the federal government, the use of the IHRA definition, and how to improve civic education; he emphasized local campus responses, broader civics instruction, and protecting democracy and due process.
The second major witness was Professor David Weber of Boston University, who testified on the BDS movement and anti-BDS laws. He described BDS as a campaign targeting Israeli businesses, universities, and institutions, and argued it functions as a propagandistic and discriminatory effort that fuels antisemitism and chills dialogue on campuses and in public life. He cited examples such as SodaStream, Ben & Jerry’s, and Brown University, and said anti-BDS laws in 37 states have been effective and constitutional because they regulate government economic activity rather than suppress speech. Weber urged Massachusetts to adopt an anti-BDS statute or executive order, saying the state’s large Jewish population and economic ties to Israel make the issue especially important. Commissioners questioned him about which states have such laws, the impact on dialogue and campus culture, possible legal frameworks, and whether BDS is really aimed at the Israeli government or at individuals and institutions; he maintained that BDS targets people and entities connected to Israel and that anti-BDS measures can help draw a line against illiberal conduct.