Transcript Highlights:

• We in Massachusetts are justifiably proud of having been the nation's top-performing education reform
• Now our overall performance has stalled.
• The vast majority of the state's lower-performing schools are in those neighborhoods.
• So, um, The vast majority of the state's lower-performing schools are in those neighborhoods.
• Which means that I perform heart procedures on children born with heart defects.

Summary: The Joint Committee on Community Development and Small Business held its final hearing of the session on H. 5187 and S. 3022, the Enough Act, which would create a grant program to support place-based, cradle-to-career anti-poverty initiatives in high-need communities. Chairs Andy Vargas and Sen. Adam Gómez opened the hearing by thanking committee members and stakeholders, and several lawmakers, including Sen. Sal DiDomenico, Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, and Rep. Antonio Cabral, described the bill as a bottom-up approach that would let local organizations, schools, and community partners direct resources where they are most needed. They emphasized that poverty, housing instability, food insecurity, and chronic absenteeism are interconnected and that the bill is intended to build local “backbone” infrastructure rather than fund isolated programs. A series of educators, school leaders, and nonprofit advocates testified in support, including leaders from Chelsea Public Schools, Bunker Hill Community College, Strategies for Children, AFT Massachusetts, United Way, the Boston Foundation, the New Commonwealth Fund, Give Black Alliance, Eastern Bank Foundation, and the Greater Boston Food Bank. They argued that schools alone cannot overcome the effects of concentrated poverty and pointed to research showing that children arrive at school already affected by poverty-related gaps. Several witnesses described existing local efforts in Chelsea, Boston, New Bedford, Springfield, Haverhill, and Lowell, and said the Enough Act would help coordinate services, align data and goals, and strengthen community voice. Some also noted that the bill could leverage philanthropic and private investment and cited Maryland and Harlem Children’s Zone as models. The hearing also featured testimony from Harlem Children’s Zone CEO Kwame Owusu-Kesse and founder Jeffrey Canada, who said the model has shown that sustained, coordinated supports can reduce the role of luck in children’s outcomes and should be scaled in Massachusetts. Committee members asked about sustainability, funding, and how the bill would interact with existing efforts such as community schools, the Student Opportunity Act, and McKinney-Vento homelessness supports. Witnesses responded that the bill would complement those programs by creating a broader, community-led framework and that long-term sustainability would require public, philanthropic, and private support. No vote was taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before layering on additional statutory requirements, it would be appropriate to allow time to evaluate
• It's troubling that a non-physician would be advertising and attempting to perform these services, It's
• troubling that a non-physician would be advertising and attempting to perform these services, which
• The exemption lets animal owners perform virtually any medical procedure on their animals, including
• Because most animal owners have not received a veterinary education, they cannot safely perform these

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In June, we've penciled in a preliminary actuarial evaluation results for that most current report.
• In June, we've penciled in a preliminary actuarial evaluation results for that most current report.
• October, annual results from the Department of Retirement Systems related to kind of pension plan performance
• And so staff, we're in the process of kind of evaluating technology solutions that manage some of the

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• that terminated and restated LEOFF 1 also included a couple of studies for the Select Committee to perform
• The committee must evaluate options for the state's For LEOFF 1.
• The committee must evaluate options for the state to assume responsibility for pension board administration
• for committee members is that any changes to the way that the State Investment Board invests and evaluates

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• sources for public school capital outlay projects and oversee the work of the PSCOC, the PSFA as they perform
• Um, so, uh, within LFC we're gonna dedicate a top, a couple of folks on our evaluation team to do some
• we've had some initial discussions with LESC on scoping for that project, um, and then, uh, the evaluators
• Um, and certainly, the evaluators could come provide our report to you on their findings, um, this fall

Transcript Highlights:

• are using those funds on a 3 year basis, and it comes with some pretty stringent, I would say, evaluation
• work together to provide some directions to the department about how to go about developing those evaluations
• So these programs that I'm going to talk about here will all have evaluations set up on the front end
• behavioral health and guidance and career counseling, as well as some of those activities, fine and performing

Transcript Highlights:

• The State Board of Education is responsible for oversight of the performance and effectiveness of charter
• The Board of Education is responsible for oversight of the performance and effectiveness of charter school
• between a charter school and an authorizer that outlines the powers, roles, responsibilities, and performance
• The commission states the operator— Based on performance and accountability.
• currently functions as a policy statement and explains how the Commission will gather information, evaluate

Summary: The Joint Administrative Rules Review Committee (JARC) met on July 31, 2026 to consider a citizen petition challenging the Washington State Charter School Commission’s April 2026 continuity of operations policy. Staff explained JARC’s authority under the Administrative Procedures Act and framed the issue as whether the Commission was using a policy in place of a rule, and whether that policy was within legislative intent. Staff also reviewed the Charter School Commission’s statutory framework, including limits on charter terms, transfer provisions involving the State Board of Education, and the Commission’s new process for identifying nonprofit operators to assume existing charter contracts when schools close or contracts are surrendered, revoked, or not renewed. The petitioner, Cesar Harrison, argued the Commission had created a new transfer mechanism through policy rather than rulemaking, potentially bypassing statutory procedures and extending charter authority beyond the five-year framework. Commission Executive Director Marcus Hardin responded that the policy was only a procedural framework for evaluating proposals, not a transfer of contracts or creation of new authority, and said the Commission had used similar discretionary processes before. Public testimony from the Washington Education Association supported the petition, emphasizing that the policy should have gone through formal rulemaking for transparency and public input. After discussion, committee members asked staff about the statute’s silence on contract continuation and the relationship between the Commission’s practice and legislative authorization. The committee then voted 7-0, with two members excused, to find that the Charter School Commission is using a policy or interpretive statement in place of a rule and that it is not within the intent of the Legislature as expressed by the statute. Staff explained that the finding will be sent to the agency, which must hold a hearing and then notify JARC of its intended action; JARC may later object to that action or take further steps. The committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• the federal level, and we're able to forecast forward and talk about just how agriculture actually performed
• We have the livestock sector, which frankly performed very well.
• Beef cattle industry all-time highs, and dairy sectors performed fairly well.
• more positive growth, but certainly an outlier in terms of the Western states and how well we're performing
• How well we're performing, even in this very tough environment.

Summary: The committee approved the January 14, 2026 minutes and then heard a presentation from the University of Idaho on the financial condition of Idaho agriculture in 2025. Presenter Brett Wilder said Idaho agriculture is a major part of the state economy and forecasted record cash receipts of about $12.1 billion, driven largely by livestock, especially cattle and dairy. He contrasted strong livestock performance with weaker crop markets, noting declines in potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, and barley, along with rising labor, storage, transportation, and interest costs. He also said export activity remains important, with agriculture accounting for a large share of Idaho exports, and projected overall net farm income to rise modestly in 2025 despite continued pressure on crop producers. Committee members asked about cattle herd rebuilding, heifer retention, dairy-beef crossbreeding, Canadian cattle imports, processing capacity, hemp, land values, and producer leverage. Wilder said herd expansion appears to be starting, but the official federal inventory data was still pending; he also said beef-on-dairy production and the eventual reopening of the Mexican border could help rebuild supplies. On the crop side, he described severe financial stress from low prices, high debt, and reduced capital spending, and said sugar beets were likely to see the largest further drop in value in 2026. He added that land values remain strong but are closer to fair value than the peaks seen a few years ago, and that he was tracking rental rates and regional land trends. Wilder also discussed the broader supply chain, saying the beef sector depends on multiple links from genetics through processing and that packers and processors need enough cattle flow to remain viable. He said current conditions favor cow-calf producers more than processors, while crop producers face continued margin pressure. The committee thanked him for the presentation, asked no further questions, and adjourned the meeting until Thursday at 1:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• In terms of the third-party evaluation of those programs, I'm going to have to defer to my colleagues
• Most recently, **Cal Poly** in San Luis Obispo did an evaluation of our...
• And I should note in terms of setting expectations, that those third-party evaluations primarily focused
• As my partners at NextGen have mentioned, extensive evaluation has been done on this... ...program, and
• We support independent program evaluation and wanted to note that the Cal Poly evaluation that was referenced

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The State of California guidelines for evaluating impacts of generative AI on vulnerable and marginalized
• stuff from the departments may be a little bit more difficult to answer, given that the departments evaluate
• stuff from the departments may be a little bit more difficult to answer given that the departments evaluate
• as these proofs of concept move into projects that implement generative AI tools, but we're also evaluating
• More specifically, the need to regularly evaluate the changing nature of work and the economy to define

Summary: The subcommittee held an informational budget hearing covering several GovOps, CDT, CPPA, and DGS items. GovOps reported that most deliverables under the Governor’s generative AI executive order have been completed, including guidelines, procurement tools, community-impact guidance, and a new project delivery lifecycle for Gen AI projects; one workforce-related deliverable remains. Members and public commenters raised concerns about privacy, labor impacts, and how the state will explain and oversee Gen AI use. The committee also heard a proposal to create a California Education Interagency Council with $5 million ongoing and 16 positions to coordinate workforce and education systems; LAO questioned duplication and recommended limited-term funding, while supporters said a neutral convening body is needed to improve coordination and student outcomes. GoServe presented the College Corps budget proposals, describing the program as a paid service and career-development opportunity for undergraduate students that helps reduce college costs while supporting communities through tutoring, food insecurity work, climate and disaster response, and other service. The administration sought one-time and ongoing funding to expand the program to more campuses and students, while LAO objected to the high administrative costs and recommended rejection. Several students and alumni testified that College Corps provided financial support, professional experience, and career pathways. The committee also heard a $5 million proposal for a Belonging Campaign to address loneliness and social isolation through research, outreach, and local grants; LAO said the proposal lacked clear goals and measures, while supporters said the effort is needed for youth, seniors, and community resilience. The Department of Technology updated the Middle Mile Broadband Initiative, saying construction is underway on the statewide open-access network and the project remains on track for the 2026 deadline, though LAO noted a required business plan had not yet been submitted. The California Privacy Protection Agency presented its Delete Act implementation request for the DROP platform, which will let consumers request deletion of personal information held by data brokers; LAO flagged oversight concerns because CDT is both developing the system and involved in project support. Public commenters from business groups urged caution on CPPA’s rulemakings, warning of compliance costs and job impacts. The Department of General Services then discussed implementation of Proposition 2 school facilities bonds, requesting staffing and administrative funding to manage the new bond program and continue school facility work. Officials said the program can also help districts affected by the January wildfires, including interim site funding and expedited assistance. Finally, DGS requested authority and positions to operate Building 18 for labor-agency tenants relocating from older Capitol Mall space; SEIU Local 1000 criticized the state’s four-day return-to-office policy and said telework has improved productivity and retention. No formal votes were taken; the hearing concluded after public testimony and member questions on each item.

Transcript Highlights:

• who would perform this needed medical<00:34:17.119><c> procedure</c><00:34:18.000><c> and</c><00:34:
• programs that have to shape and evaluate programs that have improved<01:31:34.239><c> Health</c><01:
• </c><02:14:54.040><c> an</c> willy-nilly we are performing an willy-nilly we are performing an essential
• </c><02:54:40.640><c> our</c> health treatment and to evaluate our health treatment and to evaluate our
• </c> that was being created to evaluate that was being created to evaluate safety<03:39:17.000><c> signals

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The House Committee on Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs heard testimony on House Bill 606, as amended, a bill aimed at preventing physicians from denying medically necessary sterilizing or fertility-affecting treatment based on a patient’s age, number of children, marital status, or a doctor’s speculation about future reproductive intentions. Representative Ellen Reed, the sponsor, described the bill as a response to her own long experience with PCOS, heavy bleeding, and repeated refusals by doctors to perform a hysterectomy despite her clear wishes. She said the amendment narrows the bill to medically necessary care, adds definitions for “medical condition” and “appropriate reproductive care,” and removes earlier provisions about voluntary sterilization referrals. She also said the bill does not target religious objections, and that doctors could still refuse for medical, payment, or existing religious reasons not addressed by the bill. Committee members asked about religious freedom, informed consent versus waivers, and the scope of the new definitions. Reed responded that religion was not added to the list of prohibited reasons for denial, and that the amendment is intended to protect doctors when patients sign informed consent or waivers. She explained that “appropriate reproductive care” includes procedures such as hysterectomy, oophorectomy, orchiectomy, salpingectomy, and endometrial ablation, and that the bill now focuses on medically necessary treatment rather than elective sterilization. She said the change was intended to make the proposal narrower and more tailored after earlier concerns. Several witnesses supported the bill with personal accounts of being denied hysterectomies or other procedures despite serious symptoms. Representative Lauren Selig described a decade-long effort to obtain a hysterectomy after years of cycle problems and migraines, saying doctors dismissed her concerns and treated her symptoms as normal. Jade Flad also testified in support, saying she had long been told to simply endure her cycle problems and noted that her husband was offered a vasectomy without similar barriers. The sponsor said online support was strong and that there was little or no written opposition testimony. No vote or final committee action was taken during the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 934 removes Habitat for Humanity performance bond requirement.
• Senate Bill 934 removes the Habitat for Humanity performance bond requirement.
• The problem is that the required construction performance bond adds approximately $10,000 to the cost
• Professional evaluations and monitoring of those systems over time, frequently.
• And it hasn't been evaluated 13.1. I can read it by heart.

Summary: The Committee on Rules heard a long agenda of growth-management, elections, education, housing, and professional-licensing bills. The first major item was SB 354 on “Blue Ribbon Projects,” a framework for very large planned developments on at least 15,000 contiguous acres with 60% reserved area. After adopting a strike-all amendment, senators debated whether the bill adequately protected conservation land, local government authority, neighboring property, concurrency, and multi-county projects. Supporters argued it would create more orderly, master-planned growth and preserve large areas of land; opponents said the reserve areas were too weakly protected and the bill preempted local control. The committee adopted the amendment and then reported the bill favorably on a party-line style roll call, with Chair Pasadomo and Vice Chair Jones voting no. The committee then approved SB 620 on candidate qualifying, which requires candidates to disclose any foreign citizenship and, through amendments, adds a 2026 congressional qualifying framework tied to apportionment and redistricting, including revised petition rules and deadlines. Members discussed disclosure, redistricting, and candidate vetting, and the bill was reported favorably. CS/CS/CS/SB 1452, a Department of Financial Services bill, was also amended and approved; the amendments addressed My Safe Florida Home, unclaimed property, firefighter hiring, workforce housing code accommodations, and related financial-services issues. CS/CS/SB 1620, the school board members’ bill of rights, was narrowed by substitute amendment to focus on access to records, fiscal transparency, NDAs, and related rights, and it passed after supportive testimony from school board and superintendent representatives. The committee also passed CS/HB 245, which replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material,” after debate over whether the terminology change could affect the seriousness of the crime or existing case law. SB 1548, a Live Local/affordable housing update, was reported favorably with little debate. Finally, the committee approved the veterinary medicine bill creating veterinary professional associates, after amending it to require immediate supervision by a licensed veterinarian. Throughout the meeting, many public commenters and senators weighed in on the balance between development and conservation, local control, and the scope of state regulation, with several bills drawing both strong support and strong opposition before final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have proposals in that we're evaluating for technical support to help make that transition so that
• We have proposals in that we're evaluating for technical support to help make that transition so that
• We have proposals in that we're evaluating for technical support to help make that transition so that
• </c><00:58:15.079><c> for</c><00:58:15.880><c> uh</c><00:58:16.039><c> technical</c> we're evaluating
• </c><01:53:06.360><c> uh</c> three um includes intake evaluation uh three um includes intake evaluation

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So now you're evaluating a patient, and it's not covered, which makes it pretty difficult to evaluate
• So now you're evaluating a patient, and it's not covered, which makes it pretty difficult to evaluate
• So now you're evaluating a patient, and it's not covered, which makes it pretty difficult to evaluate
• So now you're evaluating a patient, and it's not covered, which makes it pretty difficult to evaluate
• </c><00:43:30.960><c> and</c> care where that evaluation and care where that evaluation and management

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That's beyond the psychiatric evaluation. The patient will have a comprehensive evaluation.
• That's beyond the psychiatric evaluation.
• , a psychiatrist, or a psychologist performing a psych evaluation of someone may, and then if that ends
• Yeah, for all patients, as part of evaluation, we check PDMP.
• The PDMP should be consulted during the comprehensive evaluation.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Um, they took some language regarding guidance for evaluation of manufactured home communities that I
• The second reason I do not support this bill is its potentially negative impact on well-performing and
• cost-effective on well-performing and cost-effective community elementary schools.
• We could have protected these well-performing elementary schools if we had enacted measures to provide

Keywords: 926, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• As some examples, in the early 2000s, the contractor was performing pavement repairs on I-29 under a
• By the time it was litigated, the roadway had been fully resurfaced, making it impossible to even evaluate
• "Do you think that you should share some of the responsibility with the contractor performing the work
• Do you think that you should share some of the responsibility with the contractor performing the work

Summary: The Commerce Committee heard Senate Bill 916, sponsored by Senator Berger, which would limit certain liability exposure for contractors working on MoDOT projects when they are following approved plans and standards. The sponsor argued the bill aligns responsibility with control, prevents contractors from being sued for conditions they did not create, and stops the state from requiring indemnification as a condition of bidding or starting work. He cited examples of long-running lawsuits arising from highway work zones and said the bill would not protect negligence or defective workmanship. Several supporters testified, including a general contractor, representatives of the Missouri Asphalt Payment Association, the AGC of Missouri, the Missouri Municipal League, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the American Council of Engineering Companies. They said contractors often face lawsuits and higher insurance costs for incidents outside their control, sometimes even before work begins or after a project is complete. The Municipal League also supported language clarifying that naming a public entity as an additional insured does not waive sovereign immunity. MoDOT’s deputy director and chief engineer testified for information, warning the bill could create unintended consequences by bringing the state into litigation during construction if contractor indemnification is removed. After testimony and questions, the committee moved into executive session once a quorum was established. Senate Bill 916 was voted do pass by unanimous roll call, 8 ayes and 0 noes.

Transcript Highlights:

• The Department of Transportation is required to set priorities, performance metrics, and evaluation criteria
• grant and revolving loan programs, including identifying eligible project types and developing performance
• grant and revolving loan programs, including identifying eligible project types and developing performance

Summary: The committee held public hearings on two transportation-related bills. For Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5374, staff explained that the bill would require tribal governments to be included in Growth Management Act transportation coordination and in preparation of county six-year transportation programs, and would create a tribal traffic safety coordinator grant program through the Traffic Safety Commission. Fiscal impacts were described as indeterminate and scalable, with estimates for staffing, grants, and local government coordination costs. The Association of Counties testified in support, saying the bill would better align existing tribal consultation processes with transportation planning and would not force counties to restart plans already near adoption. For Engrossed Senate Bill 5649, staff said the bill would create a Washington State Supply Chain Competitiveness Infrastructure Program to provide grants and loans for public and tribal ports with public operations, with DOT setting priorities and criteria in collaboration with supply chain stakeholders. Fiscal notes estimated significant staffing and program costs, but the amount would depend on appropriations; no funds were included in the current Senate Transportation budget. The Washington Public Ports Association and representatives from the Port of Everett and Port of Port Angeles supported the bill, arguing it would help ports address congestion, improve freight efficiency, and leverage federal matching funds for major infrastructure projects. The Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board director said many proposed projects would not qualify for FMSIB funding because they are not on strategic freight corridors, which is why a separate program may be needed. Members asked about timing, whether the tribal planning bill would require counties to start over on plans already near completion, and how the port bill would interact with existing funding sources and FMSIB eligibility. Staff and witnesses said the tribal bill was intended to work with existing coordination processes and not force counties to restart, while the port bill was meant to fill gaps where current programs do not apply. The chair then reviewed amendment deadlines for budget and committee bills, and the meeting adjourned for caucuses.

Transcript Highlights:

• AB 1075 by shots line relating to the cause of action for drag performances performed in the presence
• on health care liability claim involving certain gender modification drugs to and the procedures performed
• School program to provide full and individual initial evaluations for special education services for

Transcript Highlights:

• Schatzlein relating to the cause of action for drag performances performed in the presence of a minor
• on health care liability claim involving certain gender modification drug to and the procedures performed
• School program to provide full and individual initial evaluations for special education services for

Keywords: 1184, house, all