Transcript Highlights:

• Members, appreciate the time.
• Members, appreciate the time.
• Would it just be limited to those?
• But I saw it as a household, qualifying households over a limited period of time, like I said, five or
• Over a limited period of time, like I said, five or 10 years, you know, how you would fit in if somebody

Bills: HR118, HB1039, SB436, SB442

Keywords: water utility, tax credit, excessive rates, residential service, subcommittee, local sales tax, local use tax, sales and use tax, tax audit, local collector, tax collector, prescriptive period, prescription waiver, interest suspension, delinquency penalties, estimated assessment, arbitrary assessment, certified mail notice, audit notice, taxpayer rights

Summary: Yes. This appears to be a meeting of the House Ways and Means Committee, based on the chairman’s roll call, the committee’s tax-related agenda, and the motions to report bills favorably. The committee first announced that SB 436 by Senator Cloud was deferred. It then heard SB 442 by Senator Stein, which would extend and clarify a local sales and use tax exemption in Calcasieu Parish for repairs, upgrades, and overhauls of certain aircraft at qualifying facilities like Chennault. Testimony from Citadel Completions emphasized the bill’s economic-development purpose, competitiveness with other states, and job retention/expansion in Southwest Louisiana. Representative Orgeron moved favorable passage, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee next considered HR 118 by Representative Wright, which would create a legislative subcommittee to study a possible state income tax credit for certain water utility customers affected by high rates tied to private water system upgrades and brown-water/manganese issues in parts of the Florida parishes and elsewhere. Members questioned the fiscal impact, eligibility, and whether the proposal would merely be a Band-Aid or a fair way to offset costs; Wright said it was only a study and not an automatic trigger for a tax credit. Representative Jackson moved to report the resolution favorably, and it was adopted without objection. Finally, HB 1039 by Representative Desotel was not presented and was held in committee. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, appreciate the time.
• Members, appreciate the time.
• Would it just be limited to those?
• But I saw it as a household qualifying households over a limited period of time, like I said, five or
• Over a limited period of time, like I said, five or ten years, you know, how you would fit in if somebody

Summary: Yes. This appears to be a hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee, based on the roll call, the committee chair’s remarks, and the committee’s consideration of bills and resolutions with tax and fiscal implications. The committee first announced that SB 436 by Senator Cloud was deferred. It then heard SB 442 by Senator Stein, which would provide a local sales and use tax exemption in Calcasieu Parish for repairs, upgrades, and overhauls on certain aircraft at qualifying facilities such as Chennault. The bill was presented as an economic development measure to keep aviation maintenance work and jobs in Southwest Louisiana. After testimony from Citadel Completions representatives describing the company’s operations, local partnerships, and job creation, the committee voted to report SB 442 favorably without objection. The committee next took up HR 118 by Representative Wright, which would create a legislative subcommittee to study a possible state income tax credit for certain water utility customers facing high rates tied to water system upgrades and brown-water issues in parts of the Florida parishes and elsewhere. Members questioned the fiscal impact, eligibility, duration, and whether the proposal would simply subsidize private utility rates or address a broader regulatory problem. Wright emphasized that the resolution was only for study and would gather testimony and numbers before any credit was considered. The resolution was reported favorably without objection. Finally, HB 1039 by Representative Deshotel was called but no presenter was present, so the committee held the bill in committee. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Are we going to have time limits on testifiers? Just to clarify. that will be necessary.
• We are limited in our our reality.
• Members, I know we're short of time. Members, I know we're short of time.
• And so, um, I I don't limiting access.
• comes back a second time. comes back a second time.

Bills: HF3351

Keywords: firearms, guns, gun control, gun safety, local control, home rule, preemption, municipal regulation, county regulation, city ordinances, zoning, firearm dealers, gun dealers, ammunition, carry permits, permit to carry, pistols, Saturday night special, metal-penetrating bullets, public safety

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to facilitate the goal of hearing as much from the public within the limits of our time, we
• H.R. 1 added a time limit on veterans, which requires them to report 20 hours of work per week or lose
• First, it requests a federal waiver to exempt veterans from the CalFresh time limits if they are homeless
• Thank you for your time today, and when the time is right, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.
• Thank you for your time. Thank you for your time. Thank you. Any principal witnesses in opposition?

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We'll be limiting public testimony to three minutes.
• There's no time limit.
• House Bill 4685 will be left pending at this time.
• If not, at this time the chair withdraws.
• also cognizant of that time.

Bills: HB164, HB164, HB411, HB627, HB 1226, HB1677, HB1865, HB1997, HB2985, HB3462, HB4188, HB4685, HB4840, HB5370, HB5424, HB5466, HB5509, HB5660, HB5673

Keywords: HB 164, HB164, Texas Flood Recovery, Reimbursement, and Reconstruction Program, Texas Division of Emergency Management, TDEM, Hill Country floods, July 2025 floods, flood recovery, disaster relief, flood reimbursement, reconstruction grants, resiliency standards, floodplain, base flood elevation, FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, insurance denial, property damage, tenant assistance, rental property

Transcript Highlights:

• HB 1904 will be left pending at this time.
• All timely comments are responded to.
• OK, uh, last question because I've taken enough of the, of the committee's time and your time.
• HB 3997 will be left pending at this time.
• at this time.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's a really long time ago.
• I appreciate the time. Thank you, chairs. Thank you. Thank you. I appreciate the time.
• Thank you for taking the time to listen to me.
• Thank you for your time and consideration.
• Time after time, week after week, I hear people being evicted by out-of-state landlords. ...evicted by

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Revenue held a public hearing on a series of bills focused largely on local-option real estate transfer fees and housing funding tools for communities facing severe affordability pressures. Testimony strongly favored bills for Somerville, Concord, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Chatham, and a statewide local-option transfer fee, with speakers arguing that high-end real estate transactions should help fund affordable housing, anti-displacement efforts, workforce housing, and related capital improvements. Elected officials and local housing leaders described rising rents and home prices, investor activity, shrinking year-round housing stock, and difficulty recruiting or retaining teachers, police, health care workers, and other essential employees. Several witnesses emphasized that the proposals would be optional for municipalities, could include exemptions for first-time homebuyers or seniors, and would direct revenue into local affordable housing trust funds or housing banks. Committee members asked questions about who would pay the fee and whether it could make housing less affordable, and supporters responded that the fees would be targeted at higher-value transactions and designed with local flexibility. For Somerville, the delegation and Mayor Katjana Ballantyne backed both a local home rule petition and statewide enabling legislation, saying the city has already used zoning reform, inclusionary zoning, and local housing funds but still needs a new revenue source to address displacement and investor-driven purchases. For Concord, Representative Carmine Gentile and Concord housing advocates supported a home rule petition and the statewide bill, arguing that a modest fee on sales above $1 million could generate predictable revenue for affordable housing production and preservation. One committee exchange focused on whether the fee would affect most Concord sales and whether it would be passed on to buyers; supporters said the policy was intended to shift costs toward higher-value properties and help leverage other funding sources. The committee also heard testimony on House 4105, which would redirect a casino-related revenue stream to the Healthy Incentives Program. Farmers, advocates, and residents said the current funding was originally intended to support horse racing but has not met that goal, and that the money would be better used to support Massachusetts farmers and food-insecure residents through HIP. In a separate bill, Senator Becca Rausch testified in support of Senate 268, which would create a state-level hostile learning environment complaint process for higher education institutions and potentially strip tax exemptions from colleges or universities found to have such environments; she cited anti-Semitic and transphobic incidents on campuses and argued that existing federal protections should be mirrored in state law. The hearing also included testimony on college tuition debt reduction legislation from Senator Michael Moore, who said the bill would allow a deduction for tuition and fees paid to Massachusetts public colleges and universities to ease student debt and support the state’s workforce. A major portion of the hearing focused on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket housing bank proposals. Hospital, school, housing, planning, and municipal officials from Martha’s Vineyard said the island’s year-round housing shortage is harming health care, schools, and the local workforce, and urged approval of a housing bank funded by a local-option transfer fee. Nantucket witnesses made similar arguments, pointing to a very high median home price, a large seasonal housing stock, and the need for a dedicated revenue stream to preserve and create year-round housing. Supporters repeatedly cited the long-running success of the islands’ land banks as evidence that transfer fees can work without harming real estate markets. Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Thomas Moakley Luddy also backed the Cape and Islands transfer-fee bills, saying the region needs bold action and a sustainable local funding source to address its housing crisis.

Transcript Highlights:

• I will tell you, I think that this will be the first time in a very long time where local jurisdictions
• respond one final time to that.
• Now we read the bill a third time. One more time, please.
• It's done all the time.
• We do legislation all the time. We do legislation all the time.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So to potentially address that, you could limit the bounty to a very specific date and time.
• You have very, very limited time frames, um, and then again you set everything up, boom, boom, and then
• So to potentially address that, you could limit the bounty to a very specific date and time.
• You have very, very limited time frames, um, and then again you set everything up, boom, boom, and then
• <01:44:29.400> time right you have very very limited time right you have very very limited

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• At the same time, what the bill does, even though we're limiting the scope of what those dollars can
• At the same time, what the bill does, even though we're limiting the scope of what those dollars can
• Thank you for your time.
• So mahalo for your time.
• So mahalo for your time.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The joint committees first heard House Bill 229, which would establish a statewide speed restriction for motor vehicles under certain circumstances. Testimony on the bill was limited and came in support from the City and County of Honolulu’s transportation services, the Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. No one testified in opposition, and there were no questions. The committees then took up House Bill 860, which would grant immunity from liability to the state or counties when they repair or maintain a street whose ownership or jurisdiction is disputed between them. The Department of Transportation and the Department of Land and Natural Resources submitted written testimony, and the Hawaii State Association of Counties, Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee, Hawaii County Council member Heather Kimble, and the Iolani Homestead Community Association for Justice testified in support. The Ho Association for Justice opposed the bill, arguing the immunity was too broad and that the issue had already been addressed by prior legislation. In discussion, members raised concerns about liability and asked whether a different approach, such as extending the 2017 law transferring Oahu roads in limbo to the counties, would be acceptable; county representatives said that path could be considered if immunity were removed. House Bill 1161, which would authorize counties to use a road usage charge mechanism similar to the state’s, drew support from the Department of Transportation, the Energy Office, the Hawaii State Association of Counties, several county and city offices, and the Oahu Metropolitan Planning Organization. Rental car companies and industry groups supported the concept but asked for amendments, including a flat fee instead of a per-mile charge, relief for plug-in hybrid vehicles, and a delayed implementation date. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii also supported relief for hybrids. Members questioned the rental car representatives about the flat-fee proposal, and they said a per-mile charge would be difficult to calculate and pass on to customers. At the end of the joint agenda, the committees deferred decision-making on HB 1161 to Tuesday, March 18 at 3:00 p.m., and the Energy and Intergovernmental Affairs committee also deferred the three measures to that date and time. The Transportation and Culture and the Arts committee then began hearing House Bill 925, which would create a Performing Arts Special Fund, and House Bill 1378, which would establish a Performing Arts Grants Program and Special Fund and revise the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts’ responsibilities and funding sources. HB 925 received support from the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and written support or comments from DBEDT, the Hawaii Arts Alliance, and others. HB 1378 drew extensive testimony and discussion focused on preserving arts funding while addressing concerns about the use of Works of Art Special Fund dollars for positions and programming. The Governor’s office said it supported the intent but had concerns; the Attorney General warned that the bill’s cap and transfer provisions were unclear and could affect the tax-exempt status of bond-funded dollars; and the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts opposed the measure, urging an audit, tracking of deposits, and a shift of positions and programs to general funds instead of changing the law. The chair explained that the bill was intended to protect arts funding while tightening the legal guardrails around bond-financed dollars and preserving federal support, and asked testimony to focus on new points as the hearing continued.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:21:22.799> the confusion um, by not limiting the confusion um, by not limiting the exemptions
• <00:38:09.839> only service population or is it limited only service population or is it limited
• It's a best will be limited to that.
• <01:12:44.640> when affordability issues at this time when affordability issues at this time
• that this there's a time for change. that this there's a time for change.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The committee took up House File 4466, the sub health supplemental budget bill, and moved it to the Ways and Means Committee after a walkthrough of the fiscal spreadsheet and the DE1 amendment. Nonpartisan staff explained that the bill produces general fund savings of about $2.4 million in FY27 for the 2026-27 biennium and about $97.7 million in the next biennium, with most savings tied to HR1-related Medical Assistance changes affecting adults without children. The Department of Health provisions were described as largely cost-neutral, with some increases for implementation, data, and IT work. Staff then reviewed the DE1, which combines several bills into four articles. The bill includes health licensing board changes, Department of Health provisions such as all-payer claims database fees, newborn screening fee exceptions, loan forgiveness and scholarship program extensions, workforce shortage grant changes, and reciprocal licensure and mortuary science provisions. The federal conformity article makes changes related to MA work and community engagement requirements, six-month renewals, retroactive eligibility limits, contact information updates, cost sharing for MA expansion enrollees, and related provider tax and disability-notice provisions. Article 4 and Article 5 were described as forecast adjustments for DHS and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. Public testimony focused largely on the federal conformity and eligibility provisions. Legal aid testified that the work requirements and retroactive eligibility changes would be confusing, could expand requirements beyond intended groups, and would increase uncompensated care. The Minnesota Hospital Association said shortening retroactive eligibility would increase uncompensated care and strain hospital finances, and Unidos Minnesota criticized the immigrant eligibility changes as harmful to lawfully present immigrants and Native communities. Blood Cancer United supported the all-payer claims database provisions and urged attention to fertility coverage. Representative Elkins offered an amendment to add $55,000 for the Department of Health to include denied-claims data in the all-payer claims database; Department of Health staff said the idea was useful and provided a one-time setup cost, but the amendment was not acted on in the portion of the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Limit public testimony at this moment.
• Thank you for your time. Thank you for being here.
• Both things can be true at the same time.
• So it became very personal at that point in time.
• They are stretched to the limit, and I respect that. Mr.

Summary: The Civil Justice and Claims Subcommittee considered one bill, HB 603, which would repeal section 768.21(8), the Florida medical negligence wrongful death exception often referred to by supporters as the “Free Kill” law. The sponsor argued the current statute unfairly bars certain families—especially adult children or parents of unmarried adults without minor children—from recovering non-economic damages when a loved one dies from medical negligence, while such damages are available in other wrongful death cases. Supporters, including family members, AARP, and some legal advocates, testified that the law is discriminatory and denies equal access to justice for grieving families and vulnerable adults. Opponents, including physicians, hospital and insurer representatives, and business groups, argued that repeal would increase malpractice exposure, raise premiums, worsen access to care, and accelerate physician retirements or departures from Florida. Several urged that if the bill moves forward, it should be paired with caps on non-economic damages to balance the impact on the health care system. Supporters countered that negligence must still be proven, that the law creates unequal treatment, and that existing tort reforms have not lowered premiums. The sponsor closed by rejecting claims that the bill is “jackpot justice” and emphasizing that families deserve court access and accountability. After debate, the committee voted on HB 603 and passed it 16-2. The meeting then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Oh, we haven't read it the third time. Oh, we haven't read it the third time.
• > overrode supermajority at the time overrode supermajority at the time overrode overrode<00:25
• call at the appropriate time. call at the appropriate time.
• <00:32:56.320> It limited use specialty vehicles. It limited use specialty vehicles.
• So, very exciting. significant time talking about this significant time talking about this proposal<00

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . limits. limits.
• I want to say that within limits. I want to say that within limits.
• <01:51:25.440> and<01:51:25.679> limited landowner license limits and limited landowner
• > hunt license limits and limited quota hunt license limits and limited quota hunt areas<01:51:39.199
• we have time, Senate File 99. we have time, Senate File 99.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We've been talking about this for some time.
• And that's six times more than Vermonters.
• Well, there are limits to those, right?
• open records request limitations.
• It happens all the time.

Bills: SB2, SB3, SB5, SB9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB18, SB34, SB6, SB7, SB8, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB 2, SB 3, SB 5, SB 9, SB 10, SB 14, SB 16, SB 18, SB 34, SB 6, SB 7, SB 8, SB 11, SB 12, SB 13, SB 15, SB 17, SB 4, SB1, SB2, SB3, SB5, SB9, SB10, SB14, SB16, SB18, SB34, SB6, SB7, SB8, SB11, SB12, SB13, SB15, SB17, SB4

Keywords: flooding, public safety, outdoor warning sirens, disaster preparedness, emergency response, flood warning, outdoor sirens, local government, safety measures, flood management, emergency preparedness, municipal safety, disaster response, disaster relief, emergency funding, Meteorological forecasting, local government assistance, training facilities, hemp regulation, consumable products

Transcript Highlights:

• Public testimony will be limited to two minutes.
• Alright folks, this is my first time doing this and I just found out, so I'll do my best.
• Thank you for your time. Any more public None, public testimony is closed. Thank you.
• The statute limitations on these crimes is two to three. years, respectively.
• Is there an issue with the statute of limitations?

Bills: SB127, SB456, SB482, SB659, SB739, SB816, SB1234, SB1666, SB1886, SB1980, SB2580, SB2611, SB2693, SB2776

Keywords: child abuse, reporting obligation, statute of limitations, negligence, legal professionals, human organs, criminal penalties, physician license, medical ethics, illegal trade, smuggling, human trafficking, felony offenses, law enforcement, authorized peace officer, peace officer definition, tracking equipment, communications access, electronic surveillance, cell phone records

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:04:51.680> um radio show for a weirdly long time. um radio show for a weirdly long time
• the root of the problem is not limited the root of the problem is not limited to<00:27:42.960>
• ticket fraud rates nearly four times ticket fraud rates nearly four times higher<00:34:04.960>
• <00:35:38.640> limits<00:35:39.280> market back a policy that limit limits market back
• It happens every time.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• In order to facilitate the goal of hearing as much from the public within the limits of our time, we
• H.R. 1 added a time limit on veterans, which requires them to report 20 hours of work per week or lose
• First, it requests a federal waiver to exempt veterans from the CalFresh time limits if they are homeless
• In time for the June primary.
• Thank you for your time today, and when the time is right, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Summary: The Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee met and considered several measures, with most of the discussion focused on veterans’ access to food assistance, overseas voting, and veteran mental health research. SB 1201, the “No Hungry Heroes Act,” would seek federal waivers to protect certain veterans from CalFresh time limits and require referrals to county veteran service officers; supporters said federal SNAP cuts are leaving vulnerable veterans at risk of hunger, while no opposition testified. Members spoke strongly in favor, emphasizing the need to support service members and their families. SB 970 addressed ballot access for military and overseas voters after the federal DOD fax service was discontinued. The bill would direct the Secretary of State to develop regulations for a secure ballot return method. County election officials and veterans groups supported the measure, while the Secretary of State’s office and Verified Voting raised concerns about cybersecurity and urged a more deliberate process, including a possible task force. After discussion, the committee voted to pass SB 970 and send it to Appropriations. SB 1224 proposed a California Emerging Therapies Research Partnership to help the state compete for federal research funding for alternative therapies, including treatments relevant to PTSD, depression, and substance use among veterans. Veterans advocates described the bill as a way to expand options for those not helped by traditional treatment, and the author noted amendments to address conflicts of interest and administrative issues. The committee approved the bill and referred it to Appropriations. The committee also approved the consent calendar, including HR 120, SB 892, SB 1188, SJR 14, and SJR 17, and later voted SB 1201 and SB 970 out of committee as well. Overall, the meeting reflected broad bipartisan support for veteran-focused measures, with the main policy debate centered on how to balance access and security in overseas voting.

Transcript Highlights:

• , subdivision 2, numerous times, subdivision 2, numerous times, as<00:02:39.200> that<00:02
• <00:42:53.480> and Thank you for your time and Thank you for your time and consideration.<
• :51.720> with<00:48:51.920> private limitation on coordination with private limitation
• understand the bill, and I think there maybe if it was repackaged in a way that kind of made sense for a time-limited
• There's no guidelines, no limits.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And each time, there are some judges that would like some tweaks.
• So a lot of times the nurses, a lot of times the nurses fill these things out, but sometimes the ER doc
• of their borders, it limits some of that collaboration.
• Right now we are very limited in terms of governmental-backed securities with that five-year time frame
• And right now we are very limited in terms of governmental back securities with that five-year time frame

Keywords: 959, house, all