Transcript Highlights:

• Well, listen, I want to thank you both for being concerned about future generations.
• I'm the Executive Director and General Counsel to the Massachusetts Package Stores Association.
• T-U-E and the legislature in general, and saying, you are the saviors in this fight.
• Burning wood is an outdated method of generation.
• heat pumps for generating the heat we need.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused mainly on two subjects: expansion of the Massachusetts bottle bill and bills to remove woody biomass from state clean-energy and greenhouse-gas programs. On the bottle bill, supporters from municipal, environmental, public health, and local government groups argued that the 5-cent deposit is outdated, redemption rates have fallen, and expanding coverage to more beverage containers—especially water, sports drinks, and small alcohol bottles—would reduce litter, cut plastic waste and microplastics, and save cities and towns money. Several speakers also backed raising handling fees for retailers and redemption centers, and some supported restoring a Clean Environment Fund so unclaimed deposits would support recycling-related purposes. Opponents, including the Massachusetts Beverage Association and the National Waste and Recycling Association, argued that curbside recycling and transfer-station systems are more convenient, that the targeted containers are valuable to local recycling programs, and that the proposal would shift costs onto consumers and municipalities. Committee members questioned witnesses about redemption rates, handling fees, the 2014 ballot question, and whether the bill had changed from prior sessions. The biomass portion drew strong support from Springfield officials, state legislators, environmental advocates, and public health groups. They said woody biomass should not count as clean energy because burning wood produces particulate pollution and carbon emissions, and they warned that current law contains a loophole that could help finance the proposed Palmer Renewable Energy biomass plant in Springfield. Witnesses emphasized Springfield’s air-quality and asthma burdens, the public health impacts of PM2.5, and the need to close the loophole before a January 1, 2026 deadline. One forest-industry witness supported a separate bill promoting modern wood heat with pollution controls, arguing it is cleaner than older wood systems and has minimal ratepayer cost, while noting that those credits would be affected if the governor’s broader energy affordability bill repeals the alternative energy portfolio standard. No votes were taken during the hearing. The chairs managed testimony by alternating between the bottle bill and biomass topics, asking speakers to keep remarks brief and to note when they agreed with prior testimony. Several legislators also testified in support of the bills, and committee members asked follow-up questions on deposit levels, retailer handling fees, recycling economics, and the public-health rationale for the biomass restrictions.

Transcript Highlights:

• The general partners have fees, and they have a cost to carry of the general partners.
• and future generations of North Dakotans.
• of North Dakotans to benefit to the same extent that the current generation is benefiting.
• of North Dakotans to benefit to the same extent that the current generation is benefiting.
• So, you know, there was a general consensus that the program was emerging kind of as expected.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:09:33.279> Now,<00:09:33.600> this records or records in general.
• Now, this records or records in general.
• So, um, I want to just sort of start off generally.
• <00:34:48.800> My<00:34:49.119> understanding of start off generally.
• My understanding of start off generally.

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: House File 3819 was heard and ultimately re-referred to the Judiciary Committee after the committee adopted the author’s A1 amendment and then defeated a DE1 amendment. The bill, as described by Chair West, is aimed at strengthening integrity in state child care assistance and other public programs by requiring annual disaggregated fraud reporting, making certain inspections unannounced and in person, tying inspectors to electronic attendance records, extending data retention for video footage from 28 to 90 days, requiring cameras at entrances and exits for centers receiving more than $500,000 in CCAP and/or early learning scholarship funds, adding an extra licensing visit for those higher-funded centers, and restoring perjury penalties for false attendance records. West said the changes were intended to address fraud, improve accountability, and protect assistance for families who need it. Public testimony was largely opposed. Child care providers and advocates argued the bill would impose expensive, unfunded surveillance and compliance burdens on small businesses, blur the line between fraud enforcement and licensing/safety regulation, and disproportionately target providers serving low-income families and families of color. Several testifiers said cameras and retention requirements would be costly, technically burdensome, and invasive, and warned the bill could deter providers from participating in CCAP and discourage families from using assistance. One testifier supported stronger child protection measures in principle but said the bill should focus on funding, training, and wages rather than surveillance. Another parent testifier opposed the bill on privacy and discrimination grounds and urged investment in child care instead. Representative Hansen offered the DE1 amendment, which would have created a task force to study child care surveillance and develop recommendations on safeguards such as encryption and breach notification. Hansen argued the committee was not equipped to design cybersecurity policy on its own and that the issue of child sexual abuse material required urgent, bipartisan attention. Chair West opposed the amendment, saying task forces often do not produce meaningful change and that the bill already addressed the issue. The committee voted on the DE1, and it failed on a tied vote. After that, the committee voted to re-refer House File 3819, as amended, to the Judiciary Committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• Justin Wolff is to her left, who is Deputy Attorney General of Policy.
• General, for being here and bringing your staff.
• It's not without some critiques, but generally, it's a good program.
• I think our pay is based generally on experience.
• He Was our deputy general counsel.

Keywords: 914, all

Transcript Highlights:

• generally apply to. for juveniles. generally apply to. for juveniles.
• Um, it's more in general.
• Um, it's more in general.
• Um, it's more in general.
• I'm a deputy solicitor general in the Department of the Attorney General.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 2246, which would expand public financial disclosure requirements. The State Ethics Commission strongly supported the bill, saying broader disclosure could help restore public trust and potentially deter corruption, and it offered a clarifying amendment to make clear the requirement applies to board and commission members rather than all employees of listed agencies. Several organizations and individuals also testified in support. A committee member asked about the amendment, and the commission explained it was intended as a clarification rather than a substantive change. The committee then took up Senate Bill 2250, which would add homeless facilities to the locations covered by the drug-free-zone offense for promoting controlled substances. The Public Defender opposed the measure, arguing that many homeless facilities are unmarked and not easily identifiable, creating notice, fairness, and due process concerns and risking arbitrary enforcement. The Honolulu Prosecutor’s Office and Honolulu Police Department supported the bill, saying it targets distributors rather than users, that notice can be proven through evidence, and that the law is aimed at protecting vulnerable people in shelters and similar facilities. In questioning, senators asked how homeless facilities would be identified and whether the bill would cover all shelter models; the prosecutor said the definition is cross-referenced in statute and must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. The Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii and other groups testified in opposition, while several service and advocacy groups testified in support. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 2325, which would allow courts to review and potentially reduce sentences for certain juvenile offenders after 15 years if the person is not a danger to the community. Judiciary staff said the court supports the bill’s intent but noted Hawaii’s indeterminate sentencing structure leaves no alternative sentence for a court to reduce to, suggesting the measure may need structural sentencing changes or could instead be directed to the Hawaii Paroling Authority. Public defender representatives and youth-justice advocates supported the bill, emphasizing rehabilitation, adolescent brain development, trauma, and the need for a meaningful opportunity for release. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is general funds, everything we're talking about right now is general funds. on<01:20:25.239>
• funds is that correct this is General funds is that correct this is General<01:21:27.000> funds
• <01:31:43.520> and one but it it would be zero General and one but it it would be zero General
• the general the general bonding<03:40:08.000> funds<03:40:09.319> um<03:40:10.319>
• this on the top section on the general this on the top section on the general fund<03:47:04.040>

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a public hearing and work session on House Bill 25A, the capital improvements appropriations bill, which Representative David Mills said was based on Governor Ayotte’s budget and included appropriations for capital improvements and extensions of prior appropriation lapses. The hearing drew testimony on several requested additions to the bill, with the chair noting the unusually large turnout and moving quickly through speakers. No questions were taken on the initial bill presentation, and the public hearing on HB 25A was later closed. The Community College System of New Hampshire asked for an additional $2.6 million, including $800,000 for IT infrastructure, $1.3 million for critical maintenance, and $500,000 for energy management systems. The witness said the money would address cybersecurity and online learning needs, replace failing boilers and a roof at several campuses, and prevent costly damage such as frozen pipes. The New Hampshire Veterans Home requested $1.5 million for ADA compliance and safety improvements, including floor replacement and wider doors, citing an upcoming VA inspection and the importance of preserving federal funding. Testimony also focused on career and technical education and airport funding. Milford CTE sought to keep $9.9 million in the budget for renovations after a local vote fell short, explaining the project had been scaled down from an earlier $60 million concept and that the school board wanted another chance to seek voter approval. On aviation, Concord, the New Hampshire Municipal Association, and Department of Transportation representatives urged restoring state matching funds for FAA airport grants, saying roughly $3.6 million in state money would leverage about $62 million to $65 million in federal funds for safety and infrastructure projects at public airports. Committee members asked about project selection, matching requirements, and the airport priority process, and witnesses said the program is driven by FAA-approved capital improvement plans and safety needs rather than business-return rankings.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:22:07.960> Revenue for the purpose of generating Revenue for the purpose of generating
• The entire program has generated about 759 jobs.
• <00:45:18.920> about the entire program has generated about the entire program has generated
• <00:50:36.319> and dispensaries to the attorney general and dispensaries to the attorney general
• the tax revenue to the attorney general the tax revenue to the attorney general for<00:59:24.039

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So we've got, under General Funds, you've got General Funds state aid.
• <00:06:51.120> funds General funds you've got General funds General funds you've got General
• I'm generally funded, and my office is generally funded most days, not every day. Huh.
• funded and my office is generally funded and my office is generally generally generally funded<00:49
• It's out of the general fund.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Finance Division II committee heard a Department of Education budget presentation from Commissioner Frank Edelblut and CFO Tammy Valen-cour. The department outlined its organizational structure and emphasized that it functions largely as a flow-through agency for school funding. The commissioner reviewed general fund and Education Trust Fund items, including state aid, dropout prevention, special education, building aid, lease aid, charter schools, Education Freedom Accounts, and the district adequacy calculation. He also highlighted the public school infrastructure fund, saying the state has invested well over $50 million in school safety since 2018 for measures such as access controls, locks, and window film, and argued that safety spending should be ongoing rather than reactive. Members asked about the variability in the school infrastructure line, special education aid, and the Discovery Education learning platform. Edelblut explained that some safety funding had come from one-time surplus appropriations rather than the agency line, and said special education aid was underappropriated because districts submitted more invoices than expected; he said the governor added $16 million to address the shortfall. He also described CTE renovation funding, noting four projects were initially proposed but only Jaffrey and Milford were still moving forward, with local votes required and the state covering 75% of costs. He said Milford’s project was omitted from the governor’s budget by oversight. The department also reviewed enrollment trends, noting public school enrollment has fallen from about 230,000 students in 2002 to about 185,000 today. Edelblut clarified that charter students are not eligible for Education Freedom Accounts, while EFA students attending non-public schools are counted as EFA students. He described several one-time surplus-funded initiatives, including Student Clearinghouse, MTSSB work, civics curriculum development, computer science education, and adult education. He also discussed a $4 million CTE tuition and transportation grant, saying it was kept as a competitive grant rather than a formula grant to avoid creating an ongoing maintenance-of-effort commitment that could jeopardize federal Perkins funding. In the final portion, Edelblut identified prioritized needs in the department’s budget, especially funding for a state administrator for assessment to support the legislatively required civics assessment, and additional support for the Discovery Education platform. He said every school in the state is using the platform and cited more than 1.5 million educator engagements, while a member raised concerns about mixed reviews and uneven district awareness of the program. No votes or formal actions were taken during the presentation and question period.

Transcript Highlights:

• This doesn't... the general election is a general election is a...
• attorney general in this state? attorney general in this state?
• the agent general one January of 2024. the agent general one January of 2024.
• less to the general fund. Correct. less to the general fund. Correct.
• they'll have more for the general fund? they'll have more for the general fund?

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Whatever generally walks in the door, we generally work on."
• <01:20:20.320> Whatever<01:20:20.719> generally general practice.
• Whatever generally general practice.
• , we generally work walks in the drawer, we generally work on." on." on."
• keeping up with our generation capacity. keeping up with our generation capacity.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We ensure that New Mexico's prosperity is not just achieved but sustained for generations.
• The General Appropriations Act is a balanced budget. It accomplishes key statewide priorities.
• The reserves will show on the General Fund Financial Summary about a little north of 27.
• This is supposed to be an enterprise agency, but they do get some general fund.
• The improvements in essence are for the general ticket holders.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• generate for six months out of the year here, because as we all know, we live in the tundra.
• I'm looking at solar panels that generate 5% of their potential power.
• Yeah, I'm looking at solar panels that are generating, and maybe fire. does not work?
• generate for six months out of the year here, because as we all know, we live in the tundra.
• I'm looking at solar panels that generate 5% at their potential power.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee, chaired by Senator Kevin Parker, considered several Public Service Law bills and advanced each one to the Rules Committee after brief discussion and recorded no votes or without-recommendation votes on some measures. The bills included proposals to prohibit utilities from using ratepayer funds for certain activities (1012A), establish minimum standards for payment plans for eligible customers (1327), adjust residential fixed charges (1329), require the Public Service Commission to consider economic impacts when setting rates (1847), require utilities to adopt PSC-authorized equity ratios and returns on equity (1896), create the Rate-Hike Notice Act (5553C), suspend certain utility rate changes while allowing retroactive revenue recovery (5593), allow consideration of non-economic losses in penalty determinations (7165A), change the composition of the Public Service Commission (7328A), and let utilities retain revenues above authorized returns on equity (7693). Members asked questions about who would be affected by the bills, including whether fixed-charge reductions would apply to vacant units or vacation homes and whether economic-impact considerations could affect customers differently depending on where they live; the chair and sponsors generally explained the measures as territory-wide or applicable to all residential customers, with no occupancy or income-based circuit breaker in the text. The committee then heard testimony from Alexandra Fasulo, introduced as an entrepreneur and farmer in Schuylerville, about her concerns regarding the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) and utility-scale solar development on farmland and grasslands. She argued that solar developers were pressuring landowners, including older and lower-income property owners, into long-term leases, that ORES approves most projects despite local opposition, and that the process lacks transparency, with redacted documents and limited public access to information. She also criticized the siting of solar projects on productive farmland and said decommissioning rules could leave equipment buried in the soil. Committee members responded that the Legislature has already taken steps to protect high-quality soils, that ORES was created by statute and operates within the Public Service Department, and that DEC and ORES are supposed to work together rather than ORES superseding DEC. Several senators said they were sympathetic to concerns about farmland and community engagement, but also emphasized the need to expand renewable energy and balance that with land preservation. Members suggested that specific complaints about ORES transparency or solar siting could be addressed through future legislation or by inviting ORES and PSC officials back for further discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• The decisions being made now will define how the river is managed for generations.
• We need to protect resources, especially our water resources, for future generations.
• For generations, the Autumn have lived across our ancestral lands in the Sonoran Desert.
• This is a result of incredible work that generations and generations of tribal and state leaders have
• and the generations to come.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The Arizona House and Senate held the joint protocol session for the 31st Annual Indian Nations and Tribes Legislative Day, opening with a tribal blessing, presentation of the colors, the national anthem, and the Pledge of Allegiance. House Speaker Steve Montenegro and Senate President Warren Petersen welcomed tribal leaders, elders, and guests, emphasizing the importance of government-to-government collaboration, tribal sovereignty, and the role of Arizona’s 22 federally recognized tribes in issues such as water, energy, infrastructure, public safety, and economic development. The tribal address was delivered by Fort Mojave Chairman Timothy Williams, who focused heavily on Colorado River water rights, drought, climate change, and the need to include tribes in any future river management framework as current guidelines expire. He also discussed tribal economic development, education, public safety, border security, and the importance of protecting culture, language, land, and water. Thana Autumn Nation Chairman Verlin Jose similarly stressed unity, tribal sovereignty, border issues, water stewardship, and the economic impact of tribal gaming, arguing that tribes should be full partners in state and federal policy discussions and opposing a fixed border wall. Dr. Laura Tohi of the Navajo Nation gave a poetry reading and spoke about her background, the importance of language and oral tradition, and her role as Arizona State Poet Laureate. Her poems centered on food, water, weaving, and homeland. The session concluded with closing remarks from legislative leaders thanking participants for their perspectives and contributions, and the joint protocol session was dissolved. No votes or formal legislative actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• allotment that is. causing schools to lose also a billion, about a billion dollars every year of general
• thankfully we're getting to an I, uh, the realization that it didn't work and we've screwed two generations
• by the special education funding gap, where there are not enough special education funds, and then general
• And when a student is tested, that comes out of the district's general education funds.
• then going forward, there's no longer this gap and disincentive to work with our kids outside of general

Transcript Highlights:

• And that's true in general of independent living facilities across the Commonwealth.
• I think what John is saying, we have general authority over 93A enforcement or can enforce under 93A,
• give a consumer... 93A regulations generally give a consumer the right to sue if they have a dispute
• Attorney General.
• Right now, it's too generic. It's too broad.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The commission met to review its draft final report on continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), with most of the discussion focused on whether recommendations required unanimous consensus and how to handle disagreements in the report. Members agreed that consensus meant no stated opposition, and several participants argued that unresolved issues should still be described in the report rather than omitted. The chairs said the report would include agreed-upon recommendations, note areas without consensus, and preserve written comments or dissent letters submitted by members. The draft report’s findings and slides were reviewed charge by charge, including CCRC definitions, financial condition, entrance fee refunds, regulatory oversight, advertising practices, and closure/change-of-ownership procedures. Members suggested several factual and wording edits, including clarifying financial data sources, correcting a presenter’s name, refining language about entrance fee use and refund timing, and revising statements about Attorney General authority and CCRC advertising. There was also discussion about the need to distinguish nonprofit and for-profit CCRCs and to better explain how different care levels and licensing structures are described. On recommendations, the commission kept the proposal to advance the disclosure bill (S. 478) and update the consumer guide, but removed a recommendation for annual open board meetings after objections that it was inadequate. The group spent considerable time debating whether to recommend resident representation on CCRC boards, timely refund requirements for entrance fees, and possible state registration or definition changes for CCRCs, but no consensus was reached on those items. The chairs said the final report would be completed by the statutory August 1 deadline, with final written comments due before then and the report and meeting materials posted on the legislature website.

Transcript Highlights:

• Students generally have a better grasp on technology than their parents.
• Students generally have a better grasp on technology than their parents.
• Department of Justice and as the acting associate attorney general at the U.S.
• They're the ones that are generating the revenue for us.
• I'm a fifth-generation Polk County native and a fourth-generation chairman, CEO, and president of a formerly

Summary: The Appropriations Committee on Higher Education convened with a quorum and first took up CS for SB 1694 on technology education. The bill would require technology-integrated postsecondary general education core courses to include digital literacy and competency instruction, including use of artificial intelligence tools, and would encourage high school computer science courses that include AI to teach how AI systems use data, their benefits and limitations, and responsible use in academic and personal settings. The bill sponsor and several supporters emphasized preparing students for an AI-driven workforce while teaching critical evaluation and ethical use; one speaker raised concerns about overreliance on AI and the need to preserve real-world skills. Senator Davis supported the measure and suggested introducing similar instruction earlier, possibly in middle school. The committee voted the bill favorably, with Senator Leak later recorded in the affirmative. The committee then heard a large block of confirmations for higher education boards, including appointees to Tallahassee State College, the University of South Florida, the University of North Florida, Palm Beach State College, the College of the Florida Keys, Hillsborough College, Miami-Dade College, Florida A&M University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida International University, New College of Florida, Florida Polytechnic University, and the University of Florida. The appointees generally highlighted backgrounds in education, health care, law, business, technology, and public service, and described priorities such as student success, workforce alignment, affordability, fiscal responsibility, and institutional growth. One nominee to Tallahassee State College was asked about low NCLEX pass rates and said the college had a plan approved by the Florida Board of Nursing. Another nominee discussed Florida Poly’s STEM mission, and several members praised the nominees’ community ties and professional experience. After hearing the appointees, the committee voted to report the block of confirmations favorably to the Ethics and Elections Committee. The committee then received a high-level overview of the higher education budget, totaling $11.9 billion, with major emphasis on workforce training and development. Highlights included increases for school district workforce education, the Florida College System, workforce development capitalization, a rural educator recruitment program, funding for the USF Center for Nursing, preeminent research universities, UCF’s community school grant program, UF’s literacy and math initiatives, UF’s autism and neurodevelopment center, and a postsecondary guardian program for campus security. Members asked a brief question about a workforce fund transfer, and the chair explained it was a transfer of an existing program with new funds added. No public comment was offered, and the meeting adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Will the General Counsel introduce this item? Yes, thank you, Chair.
• We are generally sworn complaint-generated people. People, third parties file complaints.
• We generally don't initiate them ourselves.
• We don't go out and investigate people, generally ourselves.
• So you're—she said the general election has a kick.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm encouraged to see the current proposed general appropriations.
• Currently, there's a lack of oversight and review of general education curriculum, leading to courses
• The chair calls Ray Bonilla, Counselor for General Counsel for Texas A&M University, and I assure you
• As the chair mentioned, I'm Ray Bonilla, General Counsel for the A&M System.
• I'm a third-generation teacher from UT Austin.

Bills: HB2476, HB2893, HB4848, HB5062, SB37, SB60, HB2860, HB4930, SB646, SB 37

Keywords: living expenses, higher education, student support, homeless students, financial aid, grant program, baccalaureate degrees, junior colleges, workforce development, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, competency-based education, baccalaureate degree, cost of attendance, dual credit, computer science, course credit, foreign language requirement, curriculum review, governing board, faculty council

Transcript Highlights:

• I have two experts here that will be presenting with me: Deputy General Counsel Scott Sauter from UNM
• I'm Scott Sauter, the Deputy General Counsel for the University of New Mexico.
• It will allow them to put the same tax in and to generate the money and put, hopefully the state will
• to create general revenue taxes.
• Chair, Madam Chair, sorry, Representative, the general fund target was set as part of the overall general

Transcript Highlights:

• I was the governor's general counsel for several years.
• The chair calls Attorney General Ken Paxton. Is General Paxton here?
• Administrative Hearings, and the Office of the Attorney General.
• She's the general.
• We have four attorneys, including myself and the general counsel.

Keywords: 1184, house, all