Transcript Highlights:

• It's been out there and available for five months now.
• Well, I'm aware of Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, Maine, Delaware.
• Are you aware of that as a board? Absolutely, we are.
• </c> the New Hampshire Medical Society aware the New Hampshire Medical Society aware of<01:16:20.600>
• </c><01:16:40.400><c> um</c><01:16:41.040><c> you</c> to raise awareness um you to raise awareness um

Summary: The Children and Family Law Committee opened its March 4 meeting with procedural announcements, including a deadline for any Minority Report, notice that the committee would not meet the following Tuesday because of town meeting day, and a preview of its March 18 agenda. The chair said that meeting would include hearings and executive sessions on HB 518, requiring DHHS to provide a detailed annual report of DCF costs, and HB 775, directing DHHS to seek proposals for supervised visitation centers; HB 553 was also slated for executive session. The committee also heard an update on Representative Grossman’s son, who remained in the PICU at Mass General. The main hearing was on HB 493, which would require child abuse and neglect education for physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants as a condition of licensure. Representative Alicia Gregg presented the bill and an amendment reducing the required training from two hours to one hour, saying the goal was to improve recognition of abuse and prevent both missed cases and false accusations. Cassandra Sanchez, the state Child Advocate, strongly supported the bill, describing a 2020 review of nine cases of non-ambulatory infants with serious injuries and later system mapping that identified gaps in medical recognition; she said the training should be part of existing continuing education hours and that voluntary uptake had been limited. Dr. Michael Matos of Wolfeboro Pediatrics also testified in support. Ben Bradley of the New Hampshire Hospital Association opposed legislating the requirement, saying hospitals already train staff and that the legislature should not single out one topic for statutory mandate when other reporting obligations are handled differently. In questioning, committee members asked whether the hour would be part of existing continuing education, whether hospitals already provide similar training, and whether the bill should be placed in the continuing medical education statute instead of child protection law. Bradley said hospital members already provide annual training and collaborate with proponents, but did not support putting the requirement in statute. Sanchez said the bill was intended to use one of the hours already required for training, though members noted that the bill text did not clearly say so. The committee also heard broader testimony about the Family Division of Circuit Court, including a proposal to create a subcommittee to study more difficult issues such as pre-trial counseling, evidentiary practices, and domestic violence-related cases, with the Speaker appointing members to that subcommittee.

Transcript Highlights:

• They said $500 onboarding fee and $880 a month. No contract; it's just month to month. I'm sorry.
• $500 onboarding fee and $880 a month for that month.
• And so that's, let's call it four months, four and a half, five, six months. It's not that.
• Are you aware of how the medical board does this?
• He's about 10 months into his two-year program.

Bills: SB1888 , SB3003 , SB2417 , SB2459 , SB3055 , HB1393 , HB2884 , SB2943

Committee: Senate State Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• Lastly, 12 of the worst 14 months for hate crime occurred in the second half of those years.
• Months for hate crime occurred in the second half of those years.
• We certainly are aware of those trends that you have uplifted and highlighted as a concern.
• In recent months, immigrant communities have witnessed heartbreaking incidents, including the deaths
• That already exceeds the total for all of last year, and we've got five months to go.

Transcript Highlights:

• My organization helped fund necropsies for a nine-month period last year, from 2024 to 2025.
• June, I've lost track of what month it is. And we are now in the conference committee process.
• June, I've lost track of what month it is. And we are now in the conference committee process.
• Are y'all aware there are no bird sanctuaries in Massachusetts?
• Are y'all aware there are no bird sanctuaries in Massachusetts?

Bills: H5432 , H5433 , S3093 , H5363 , H5137 , H5247

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Summary: The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources held a hybrid hearing on late-file bills, with testimony focused first on multiple home rule petitions seeking local authority to restrict anticoagulant rodenticides in towns including Andover, Topsfield, North Andover, Williamstown, Georgetown, Lexington, and others. Municipal officials, residents, wildlife advocates, and conservation groups described documented harm to hawks, owls, foxes, turtles, pets, and other wildlife, and argued that towns should be able to regulate these poisons locally. Several speakers said their towns had already voted to support restrictions and were using integrated pest management and other alternatives. Committee members noted that statewide rodenticide legislation had already advanced out of committee in both chambers and that the environmental bond bill was in conference committee, but no votes were taken during the hearing itself. The committee then heard testimony on H. 5137, a bill to prohibit the retail sale of parrots. Supporters, including animal welfare groups, veterinarians, rescue operators, and advocates, said parrots are often sourced from large breeding facilities with poor conditions, that many birds are surrendered because they are difficult long-term pets, and that rescues are overwhelmed. They argued the bill would encourage adoption, reduce demand for commercial breeding and trafficking, and improve bird welfare and public health. Opponents, including breeders, pet retailers, aviculture representatives, and rescue operators, said the bill would harm small businesses, reduce consumer access and transparency, and push sales to unregulated markets without improving welfare. Several speakers said the bill should instead focus on stronger standards and enforcement rather than banning sales. A separate bill, S. 310, designating the Marion Stoddard River Walk, was also briefly discussed in testimony supporting Marion Stoddard’s environmental work. The hearing ended after the committee finished taking testimony and adjourned; no roll-call votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• district does not submit the required data to the OSPI within 45 days of the end of the reporting month
• Is there ongoing oversight of OSPI to ensure that school districts are aware that they may be sliding
• If I start with a 6% minimum balance, we definitely would be negative by the month of February.
• Our expenditures are pretty steady from month to month, so divide by 12.
• We’re really aware of the trends. We’re watching.

Bills: HB2440 , HB2551 , HB2593

Committee: House Education

Keywords: education, ombudsman, record-keeping, transparency, advocacy, school funding, financial solvency, education budget, district financial health, state funding, accounting, budgeting, reporting

Transcript Highlights:

• For years, I was paying into the Lifeline program alone, $2 to $3 a month.
• It would go to $1.86 a month.
• What they can afford is actually the $30 a month that was the benchmark for ACP.
• These plans are historically $10, $20, $30 per month.
• as high as $116 per month.

Committee: House Communications and Conveyance

Transcript Highlights:

• We are now tasked with ensuring the administration is aware of issues like this.
• As I became more aware, yes, we do need them. And the reason why we need them is...
• With Chapter 35, it's a one-time, well, not one-time, but per month stipend.
• So it is programmed for eight months. It's running in roughly 13 to 14.
• I think people were already on the verge of, 'How do I make rent this month?'

Transcript Highlights:

• As we begin the observance of Black History Month, I want to ground us in that context.
• by 2030, which is increased from the current three-month reserve requirement.
• I'll give you an example of what's happening right now just in the past month.
• We have had to I'll give you an example of what's happening right now just in the past month.
• These are families who will be waiting for eight to nine months just for a chance to see a judge.

Summary: The committee held a public hearing on a series of housing, education, workforce, and court-related bills. On Substitute Senate Bill 5884, staff described changes to a sales and use tax deferral for redeveloping vacant or underused land into affordable housing, including broader eligible property definitions and lower affordability thresholds in designated areas. Testimony was mixed: builders opposed language they feared could encourage project labor agreements, while Spokane and Kent representatives supported the bill but asked for flexibility on affordability mix requirements. On Senate Bill 6256, which expands a property tax exemption for nonprofit low-income rental housing to include certain co-located community uses during construction and extends the pre-construction exemption period, testimony was strongly supportive from housing nonprofits and local housing partners, with questions focused on clawback provisions. The committee also heard Substitute Senate Bill 6027, which expands allowable uses of local housing and supportive housing sales tax revenue, adjusts a REET exemption timeline, broadens emergency housing definitions, and changes use of the Affordable Housing for All account. County, housing, and nonprofit witnesses said the bill would help preserve housing and services amid federal funding uncertainty, though Snohomish County asked for an amendment to allow rental assistance. Substitute Senate Bill 6018 would revise the Housing Finance Commission’s authority, including direct lending and bond counsel terms; commission staff said it would modernize outdated restrictions and improve financing flexibility. Substitute Senate Bill 6028 would create a revolving loan fund for mixed-income homeownership projects; supporters said it would help smaller infill projects pencil, while staff noted the loans would be subordinate and carry some risk. Later, the committee heard Senate Bill 6275 on the community reinvestment program, which would require periodic plan updates, reporting, and a WSIPP study, while also expressing legislative intent to continue at least $100 million annually in the account. Advocates, workforce groups, legal aid providers, and small business owners testified that the program supports communities harmed by past disinvestment and should be made permanent and more accountable. Substitute Senate Bill 5961 would move the Imagination Library program from DCYF to OSPI; early literacy advocates and local partners supported the transfer as better aligned with school readiness. Substitute Senate Bill 5969 would integrate IEP transition plans with high school and beyond plans, and a prior critic said amendments addressed her concerns. Second Substitute Senate Bill 5292 would shift PFML premium rate-setting to the annual actuarial report and raise the reserve target; labor and industry witnesses supported the change, while a policy group opposed the program’s costs. The committee also heard Senate Bill 5868 to add one superior court judge each in Skagit and Yakima counties. Judges and county officials testified that caseloads, population growth, and backlogs justify the additions, and county leaders said they had already budgeted for their share. Finally, Substitute Senate Bill 5827 would allow service members to use pre-discharge certification to claim veterans’ civil service preference; the sponsor said it would solve a timing problem for transitioning service members. No votes or final committee actions were taken in the transcript, as the meeting consisted of bill briefings and public testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• In the case of one hydro owner that I'm aware of, they lost a substantial number, like three months'
• </c> one, we weren't aware of the DOE study. one, we weren't aware of the DOE study.
• 8 to 18 months ago.
• </c> uh 18 to 18 months ago, 8 to 18 months uh 18 to 18 months ago, 8 to 18 months ago. ago. ago.
• Had the entire August 1st through defined 6-month periods. defined 6-month periods.

Committee: Senate Energy and Natural Resources

Transcript Highlights:

• justice system should they require incarceration upon release, to make sure that they are not only aware
• They get 20 or 30 graduates every two or three months when it goes through the process.
• And fortunately, I was blessed with the opportunity to get a bed there after a couple months.
• Bed 39 was actually where I slept for a couple of months. And it was a great program.
• It was a short stay, maybe a couple months. But unfortunately for me, I wasn't ready.

Summary: The Military Affairs and Border Security Committee heard two veterans-focused bills. HB 2960 would create a Veterans Specialty Court grant program and fund to help cities and counties start, expand, and improve veterans treatment courts, with the Administrative Office of the Courts overseeing best practices, data collection, and reporting. It would also require the Department of Corrections to identify incarcerated veterans and share monthly information with the Department of Veterans’ Services so veterans do not lose contact with benefits and support services. The sponsor and a veteran testifying in support described the bill as a way to address underlying issues such as PTSD, substance use, and reintegration challenges through diversion and treatment rather than punishment. The committee also heard HB 2620, which would appropriate $300,000 annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services for grants to large emergency shelters serving homeless veterans, including Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS). Supporters said the funding would allow shelters to hire dedicated veteran case managers, provide flexible assistance, and move veterans more quickly into permanent housing. A CASS representative and a veteran who had stayed there testified in favor, describing the shelter’s veteran-specific services and the importance of stable, trauma-informed case management. Both bills received strong support from committee members, many of whom spoke personally about veterans treatment courts and homelessness services. HB 2960 was approved on a 6-0 vote with one member not voting, and HB 2620 was also approved 6-0 with one member not voting, each receiving a do-pass recommendation.

Transcript Highlights:

• ,</c><00:37:41.280><c> I</c> waited just a couple more months, I waited just a couple more months, I
• And then for those who is not aware.
• And it was an estimated cost increase of less than $1.35 per member per month.
• Their babies may be for over two months.
• </c> prior to discharge was aware of this. prior to discharge was aware of this.

Committee: Senate Commerce and Consumer Protection

Transcript Highlights:

• That person testified that they are aware of one college and were not aware of other colleges.
• That person testified that they are aware of one college and were not aware of other colleges.
• That person testified that they are aware of one college and were not aware of other colleges.
• That person testified that they are aware of one college and were not aware of other colleges.
• your months or eight months to get your report<01:48:42.400><c> in.

Committee: Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs

Transcript Highlights:

• And just six months after that run.
• </c><00:48:28.240><c> I</c> aware of any data that would indicate.
• I aware of any data that would indicate.
• c> those</c><00:48:39.839><c> situations</c> aware of any of those situations aware of any of those situations
• I think the six-month request is comply.

Summary: The committee first heard a presentation from the Kentucky Aviation Association on the importance of general aviation airports in Kentucky and their economic and public-safety role. Witnesses said the state has more than 50 general aviation airports that support jobs, agriculture, tourism, medical transport, disaster response, and law enforcement, and they urged continued support for aviation infrastructure and workforce development. They asked the legislature to again provide $200,000 per general aviation airport for operating and basic infrastructure costs, to route the money through the Kentucky Department of Aviation for accountability, to revisit a special-purpose governmental entity audit requirement they said is too costly for small airports, to create a long-term appropriations process for the roughly $100 million in unmet capital needs, and to fund the Arrow Act for aviation education and scholarships. Members asked about a dedicated aviation fuel tax and about local training partnerships, simulators, and school or community college programs; the witnesses said they preferred an appropriations-based solution and offered to help connect interested communities with aviation education resources. The committee then took up “Troy’s Law,” sponsored by Representatives White and Flannery, which would allow tow trucks to use blue lights while stationary and actively removing vehicles or debris from highways. Sponsors and tow operators said the bill is intended to improve worker safety after the deaths of tow operators Troy Cwell and Hubert Mosley in highway hit-and-run incidents, and they emphasized that tow operators often work in dangerous conditions at night, in bad weather, and near fast-moving traffic. They said the proposal would not apply while driving or towing and noted that other states have adopted similar measures. Witnesses from the towing industry, including Bubba Johnson and Barbara Maguire, supported the bill as an added layer of protection and described tow operators as first responders who help motorists in emergencies. Representative Flannery and other members expressed support for the safety goal and invited further discussion, but no vote or final action was taken in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• the numbers for the request this year, I did want to point out that, as I'm sure the committee is aware
• Chair, I know from a few months ago, now if something's changed in the last couple of months, don't hold
• Chair, I know from a few months ago, now if something's changed in the last couple of months, don't hold
• The employee is aware. The employee is aware that when the grant is gone, the grant is gone.
• They plan to ask for the remaining months of funding related to that in FY 2028.

Summary: The committee heard a lengthy presentation on the K-12 public school support budget, including how support units, career ladder funding, health insurance, discretionary funding, transportation, facilities, and the Public Education Stabilization Fund (PSIF) work. Legislative Services explained that FY 2026 support units were revised downward, creating a $22.3 million ongoing general fund reduction, and walked through the FY 2027 agency request and governor’s recommendation. The governor recommended no increase for population forecast adjustments, but did recommend some statutory and policy changes, including shifting certain interest earnings to the general fund and reducing funding for some virtual school and IDLA-related items. The agency request also included one-time proposals for a high-needs special education fund and a regional service model for related services. Members asked extensive questions about how career ladder dollars are distributed, how health insurance and discretionary funds interact, why the health insurance increase in the budget differed from current plan estimates, and how facilities money under House Bill 292 is used. There were also questions about the size and use of the Idaho Career Ready Students fund, the maintenance-of-effort implications of special education funding, and whether some special education costs are being used for student housing or other noninstructional expenses. The superintendent and budget staff emphasized that many of the budget lines are formula-driven or statutorily required, that local districts determine actual staffing and spending within those formulas, and that special education costs continue to outpace available funding. Superintendent Debbie Critchfield then framed the budget request around enrollment trends, shifting demographics, and the need for more flexibility in how districts use existing dollars. She highlighted proposed categorical flexibility for some funds, changes to digital content and curriculum distribution, continued literacy gains, growth in career technical education programs funded through Idaho Career Ready Students, and the importance of endowment and Millennium Fund support. She also described the special education proposals as a temporary bridge while the state considers larger formula changes and noted a near $100 million gap between special education spending and funding. She further outlined planned federal waiver requests on assessments and flexibility, and said the department is seeking more state control over testing and reporting requirements. The committee did not take final action on the budget during this portion of the meeting. Members raised concerns about interest transfers from dedicated funds, the complexity of the funding formula, special education accountability, and whether the state should revisit the overall school funding model. Several follow-up data requests were made, including information on health insurance participation, regional special education service needs, and school contingency fund balances.

Transcript Highlights:

• From my perspective, you tackle it with an awareness and... ...training program to start.
• There's nothing in here that guarantees our psychologists and psychiatrists are aware of the DSM-IV.
• Part of this is making an awareness at a level that if those records are currently available—and they
• So, Senator, are you aware of the fact that the knowledge of arbitration being expensive was part of
• Remember, per month they are at full risk for the state of Texas and taxpayers for that cost.

Bills: HB136 , HB451 , SB425 , SB466 , SB905 , SB1986 , SB2311 , SB2450 , SB2805 , SB2826 , SB2919 , SB3001 , HB136

Committee: Senate Health & Human Services

Transcript Highlights:

• month.
• Every month, just That's $1,400 a month.
• That's four months from now. And then what's going to happen in four months?
• Today, I rise in recognition of Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month and to highlight the lifesaving work of
• Speaker, this month, let us all honor Trinity's legacy by raising awareness and championing early detection

Transcript Highlights:

• When I went to Concord Farm, initially I was supposed to do 18 months. It went down to nine months.
• When I went to Concord Farm, initially I was supposed to do 18 months. It went down to nine months.
• They don't realize that, because I'm aware that the policy is that six months after release, if you're
• I was behind the wall just a month ago.
• after month has been on corrections.

Summary: The Special Commission on Correctional Consolidation and Collaboration met to approve prior minutes and then heard extensive testimony focused on reentry, programming, and the differences between Department of Correction facilities and county sheriff programs. Much of the testimony came from incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people describing how county facilities offered education, treatment, work release, identification documents, housing help, and reentry planning that they said were often unavailable or harder to access in state DOC settings. Several witnesses emphasized that these programs helped them obtain sobriety, employment, family reunification, and parole readiness, while others said they needed more time, mentoring, or transitional support before release to make the most of those services. Witnesses from Hampshire, Barnstable, Hampden, and Franklin counties described specific programs such as high school/GED completion, college courses, culinary arts, vocational training, recovery groups, therapeutic treatment, and community-based reentry centers. Many said staff treated them with dignity and that the facilities’ culture encouraged accountability and personal change. A few witnesses also noted that some programs were not a fit for their needs, especially for people without substance-use issues or for those whose mental health needs were not adequately addressed. One Barnstable witness said she returned to custody within 48 hours of release because she was not mentally prepared for reentry, and another from Framingham said mental health support was insufficient and visitation restrictions worsened her experience. Commissioners asked follow-up questions about DOC access to programming, classification barriers, reentry preparation, and visitation policies. Several witnesses said DOC programming was limited by sentence length, classification status, or program waitlists, and that some people were steered into programs that did not match their needs. A number of commissioners and the sheriff present responded by stressing the importance of wraparound services, individualized planning, and hiring formerly incarcerated staff. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• of the issue, if they're not aware.
• I mean, six months, who knows what. Whatever.
• Our biggest problem with STAR is it takes weeks to prepare and months and months to get the results.
• Health Awareness Month, and she was our coordinator for that, so I just want you to know.
• This test that takes five months to where I don't know it's not five months, but a long time to get the

Bills: HB4 , HB54 , SB 10 , SB 24 , HB4 , HB54 , HB775 , HB850 , HB 1122 , HB 1249 , HB1405 , HB2336 , HB2757 , HB3372 , HB3622 , HB4442 , HB4687 , HB4893 , HB5089 , HB5515 , HB5606 , SB10 , SB24 , HB1573 , HB3369

Committee: House Public Education

Transcript Highlights:

• As I mentioned earlier, the use of the training ceased as soon as we became aware of it.
• We're not aware that the article is being used by any other agencies at this time.
• The agency that we became aware of was the Pollution Control Agency, PCA.
• Some of you may not be aware that legal immigration processes actually take months, years, or even decades
• Legal immigration processes actually take months, years, or even decades.

Bills: HF10

Committee: House State Government Finance and Policy

Transcript Highlights:

• I have deep concerns about the very, very tight margin that CBAS providers run on month to month, so
• We issued over $7,600 incentive payments for one month for working one month for a recipient, and over
• $4,900,000 in incentives for the six-month requirement.
• in 2009 to $1,206 a month in 2025.
• in 2009 to $2,057.83 per month in 2025.

Summary: The joint Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing focused first on long-term services and supports for older adults, especially the “forgotten/overlooked middle” who earn too much for Medi-Cal but cannot afford private long-term care. Administration witnesses from DHCS, the Department of Aging, and Social Services described Medicare’s limited long-term care coverage, Medi-Cal’s role, the elimination of the Medi-Cal asset test, and ongoing state studies and listening sessions on financing options. Testimony from advocates and researchers emphasized rising homelessness among older adults, the need for better navigation and coordination across health, aging, housing, and social service systems, and short-term policy steps such as share-of-cost reform, housing stability supports, and protecting home- and community-based services. Members highlighted the need for a coordinated, no-wrong-door approach and asked for the most impactful budget investments to address affordability and homelessness risk. The second major topic was the Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS) program. CDA reported that CBAS helps participants remain in the community, that 304 centers operate statewide serving about 42,000 people, and that demand is stable but access gaps remain in some regions. DHCS explained that a 2024 rate increase authorized by SB 159 became inoperative after Proposition 35, and that a separate 10% rate change on the fee schedule was the result of a DHCS system error; the department said it would not require recoupment, though managed care plans may act under their contracts. CBAS providers and advocates warned that reimbursement rates have not kept pace with costs, that several centers have closed, and that clawbacks could trigger more closures. They requested $74.8 million ongoing General Fund to close part of the rate gap and preserve the program, while members expressed concern about closures and the cost savings of keeping people out of more expensive institutional care. The hearing then moved to In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and statewide collective bargaining. CDSS reviewed provider recruitment and retention efforts, including electronic timesheets, direct deposit, and the now-completed IHSS Career Pathways program, which trained more than 59,000 providers. CDSS also summarized its AB 102 workgroup report on statewide versus regional bargaining, saying the final report would be sent to the Legislature soon and that statewide bargaining appeared more viable than regional bargaining, though it would require clear statutory scope and major fiscal changes. The department estimated that each $1 per hour statewide wage increase would cost at least $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion annually. Labor advocates argued that IHSS wages, benefits, and training are too inconsistent across counties and called for statewide bargaining, consumer participation, and ongoing state funding. County representatives supported stronger wages but cautioned that counties need protection from new costs and administrative burdens, and consumer advocates warned that moving bargaining to the state could weaken local consumer control and the program’s consumer-driven structure.