Transcript Highlights:

• c> 156126 Child Support Services Program 1 156126 Child Support Services Program 1 156126 A12<01:
• /c><01:21:17.440> three supportive services B130 726 I three supportive services B130 726 I three
• Child support services. Automated child support enforcement system, 22.9 FTE.
• Child support services. Page 221, House Bill 1410, Department of Human Services.
• Forensic Support Team, 28.0 FTE. Court Services, 67.6 FTE.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
• FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE, TO THE BUREAU OF LAND Often surrounded
• I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
• I rise in support of H.R. 5200, the Emergency Reporting Act, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
• The Federal Communications Commission's Universal Service Fund provides Funding to support the deployment

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, April 20, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Employment Services.
• This change supports streamlined internal management and aligns veteran services with other county operations
• Currently, the Texas Veterans and Family Alliance grant program, which supports mental health services
• We're in full support of this.
• We're in full support of this.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs heard a briefing from the Texas Veterans Commission on its major programs and outreach efforts. TVC described its claims assistance, health care advocacy, education oversight, employment services, entrepreneurship support, mental health and suicide prevention work, women veterans services, grant funding for nonprofits and local governments, and support for veteran treatment courts. The agency also highlighted its communications strategy, including media outreach, events, newsletters, social media, and the Texas Veterans State Benefits Booklet, and noted that less than 58% of veterans were aware of TVC in the latest needs assessment. A committee member asked about performance metrics, and TVC said each appropriation has associated measures and that it could provide recent results. The committee then took up Senate Bill 651, which would allow a county veterans service office in a large county to report either directly to commissioners court or to a designated county executive official. Senator West explained the bill as a cleanup of current practice, and Dallas County testified in support, saying the change would streamline internal management. No opposition was heard, and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 897 would reduce the non-state matching requirement for the Texas Veterans and Family Alliance grant program in larger counties from 100 percent to 75 percent in the committee substitute, rather than the 50 percent reduction in the filed version. Supporters from MetroCare and Emergence Health Network said the lower match would help sustain and expand veteran mental health services, citing increased demand and program growth. The bill was left pending after testimony. The committee also adopted its rules. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1814, which would create an interagency database to collect and coordinate contact information for transitioning veterans so agencies could proactively connect them with services. Senator Hancock said the goal was to better use information already being collected, though he noted the bill had a significant fiscal note. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1818, which would create a temporary six-month licensing and certification process for military members and spouses assigned to Texas while they wait for letters of good standing from other states. VFW testified in support, emphasizing the importance of employment for military families. Both bills were left pending, and the committee recessed subject to the call of the chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• And there's $6.2 million for child support enforcement services for the well-being of children and to
• to support the expansion of 911 services through emerging technologies.
• to support the expansion of 911 services through emerging technologies.
• to support the expansion of 911 services through emerging technologies.
• services to identify and support services to identify and support unsheltered<01:28:46.000> homeless

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• the Postal Service.
• to the Postal Service.
• the Postal Service.
• to the Postal Service.
• services who offer on-the-scene support to our emergency responders and who continue to support those

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Monday, March 3, 2025, 1012, house, all

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• So if we want them to succeed, we've got to put in place the kinds of support services and enrichment
• I'm here to support the Enough Act.
• Evidence-based integrated student support results in a personalized set of supports and opportunities
• We support passage of the ENOUGH Act and its inclusion of evidence-based integrated student support,
• I urge you to support that.

Keywords: 995, all

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, with Chair Andy Vargas and Senator Adam Gomez opening by thanking committee members and stakeholders for their work during the session. The bills were described as a grant-based, place-based anti-poverty initiative intended to support cradle-to-career services by funding local nonprofits, schools, community organizations, and backbone entities that can coordinate housing, education, health, workforce, and family supports in high-poverty neighborhoods. Testimony was overwhelmingly in support of the bills. Speakers including Strategies for Children, Chelsea Public Schools, Bunker Hill Community College, Senator Sal DiDomenico, Rep. Kate Lipper-Garabedian, Rep. Antonio Cabral, the Harlem Children’s Zone’s Kwame Owusu Kesse and Jeffrey Canada, former Education Secretary Paul Reville, AFT Massachusetts, United Way, the Boston Foundation, Give Black Alliance, Eastern Bank Foundation, and others argued that poverty is a systems issue that schools alone cannot solve. They emphasized the need for local control, community voice, coordinated services, and long-term public-private investment, often citing examples from Chelsea, New Bedford, Springfield, Lowell, Boston, and other communities, as well as the Harlem Children’s Zone and Maryland’s similar model. Committee members asked several questions about how the bill would function in practice, including what organizations would do on day one, how it would interact with existing efforts like community schools, McKinney-Vento, and the Student Opportunity Act, and how it would be sustained over time. Witnesses said the act would help create or strengthen backbone organizations, reduce duplication, align existing resources, and leverage philanthropy and future revenue sources for long-term sustainability. No vote was taken during the hearing, but multiple speakers urged the committee to report the bill favorably and quickly.

Transcript Highlights:

• And to support and augment the services offered on a local level. Is that a good way to put it?
• We support wildlife services through water conservation programs. programs.
• services, military family support services, and child care facilities.
• to develop these new programs and wrap-around support services.
• . and support services.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

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• support they need.
• service organizations. service organizations.
• service service member to record of that service service member to ensure<00:30:57.679> that<00
• So, I urge you to support<01:03:47.680> 18<01:03:48.240> uh support 18 uh support 18 uh
• officers the service county service officers the service organizations<01:42:08.400> uh<01:42

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Eskamani: There has been some discussion about services that we get, that the cost of those services
• Chair: Waiving in support. Waives in support.
• Waiving in support. Chair: Patt Vasser.
• , planning and service at risk.
• We did not ask for service cuts. We did not ask for cuts to our police, fire, local services.

Transcript Highlights:

• Others can go into family settings with additional services and supports to meet their needs.
• They need support services to make that reunification happen.
• On Zoom, in support, please raise your hand. In the room, in support.
• On Zoom, in support, please raise your hand. In the room, in support.
• urges your support.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S SUPPORT.
• WE KNOW WE HAVE TO PROVIDE SERVICES.
• , A ROBUST PROGRAM THAT OFFERS MORE SERVICES.
• PLEASE SUPPORT SENATE FAIR BILL 596 BY SUPPORTING SENATOR HARRELL. >> Sen.
• I SUPPORT THE BILL.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We had $15 million for pretrial services to primarily support probation departments and sheriff's departments
• We had $15 million for pretrial services to primarily support probation departments and sheriff's departments
• We supported food banks, legal services, and critical safety net programs that many Californians depend
• legal services.
• Families need support now. Seniors need support now. People with disabilities need support now.

Summary: The Assembly convened, initially lacked a quorum, and then completed the roll call, prayer, and pledge. Members observed a moment of silence for the fatal B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base in Assemblymember Lackey’s district. The body then handled a series of procedural motions, including re-referrals of numerous Senate bills to different committees, suspending rules for committee notices, and taking up the budget bill, AB 109, without reference to file for concurrence in Senate amendments. Debate on AB 109, the 2026 budget act, centered on competing views of the state’s fiscal condition and policy priorities. Supporters said the budget balances the current and next year’s budget, reduces the structural deficit, builds reserves, protects health care, schools, housing, food assistance, and other safety-net programs, and responds to federal cuts under H.R. 1. Opponents argued the budget increases taxes and costs, shortchanges schools, underfunds Proposition 36, relies on gimmicks, and does not adequately address public safety, cost of living, or long-term sustainability. Several members also highlighted specific provisions such as hospital support, Medi-Cal and IHSS protections, child care, immigrant legal services, prison closure, and funding for courts and victim services. A motion by Assemblymember DeMaio to return AB 109 to the Senate failed on a roll call vote, 13 ayes to 45 noes. The Assembly then voted on concurrence in the Senate amendments to AB 109; the measure passed, and the Senate amendments were concurred in without objection, with immediate transmittal to the Governor. Afterward, the Assembly moved to the daily file and took up SCR 89, a resolution affirming diversity, equity, and inclusion. Supporters from several caucuses framed DEI as a core California value and a response to federal attacks, while opponents criticized DEI as divisive. The transcript ends during debate on SCR 89, before any final vote is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• services, which includes home health aide, rehab therapy, skilled nursing visit services, as well as
• home care nursing services.
• services, which includes home health aide, rehab therapy, skilled nursing visit services, as well as
• home care nursing services.
• Home health agency services include home health aide, rehab therapy, skilled nursing visit services,

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Then you have student support, instruction support, administration, plant operations, food service, transportation
• Then you have student support, instruction support, administration, plant operations, food service, transportation
• From the classroom and into support services and plant operations.
• Money was spilling out of the classroom into other things, including support services.
• families make tremendous sacrifices in service to our country, and they deserve gratitude and support

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• we need resources to be able to support administrative and customer service.
• The agency's general revenue directly supports agency services that change the lives of Texas veterans
• And also supporting the data center services in coordination with DIR.
• , On which nonprofits, veteran treatment courts, and which type of services that we would support with
• We want to thank you for your service and your ongoing support for retired state employees.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• It was shifting individuals from Customized Living and Supportive Living settings into the ICS service
• It's provider exits, frozen capacity, and people losing supports long before a new service exists.
• It was shifting individuals from Customized Living and Supportive Living settings into the ICS service
• It's provider exits, frozen capacity, and people losing supports long before a new service exists.
• long before a and people losing supports long before a new<00:10:27.120> service<00:10:27.480

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, we have Hawaii Youth Services Network in support on Zoom.
• Child and Family Service in support. Thank you. Um, Hawaii True Cost Coalition in support.
• Child and family service and Thank you. Child and family service and support.
• family preservation and these support family preservation and these support services<03:05:09.279
• We have the Department of Human Services in support on Zoom or in person, sorry.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• professional services designed to support independence contribute to the ability to exit the trade,
• support, access to informed health care and mental health services, as well as educational and cultural
• We see the difference it makes when folks are offered humanity and support. ...services we offer.
• I implore you to consider decriminalization and funding more community support services. Thank you.
• We need more services across the state in areas where services are currently overwhelmed, and services

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on the Judiciary held a lengthy public hearing on a wide range of civil rights, immigration, hate crimes, and reparations bills. Chair Edwards and Chair Day opened with strict testimony rules, including two-minute limits, written testimony options, and decorum requirements. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell testified in strong support of S. 1126/H. 1920, the Combating Hate in the Commonwealth bill, saying Massachusetts needs stronger tools to address rising hate and bias incidents. Her Civil Rights Division chief explained that the bill would give the division civil investigative demand/subpoena power, expand civil rights enforcement, close loopholes in the Massachusetts Civil Rights Act, add protected classes to the hate crimes law, and require better hate-crime data reporting. The committee also heard support for H. 1954 on access to counsel in immigration proceedings, H. 4684 on law enforcement identification and public trust, and H. 1927 to exonerate individuals accused of witchcraft in colonial Massachusetts. Several bills focused on discrimination and civil rights enforcement. Supporters of S. 1248 on organizational standing said fair housing nonprofits need explicit authority to bring discrimination complaints in their own names, especially as federal protections are under attack. On H. 1246, advocates urged adding sex and gender as protected classes in the hate crimes statute, arguing women are not protected under current state law. H. 1820 drew testimony for protections against height and weight discrimination. H. 1995 would regularize sentencing for hate crimes by requiring diversity awareness training for both convictions and continuances without a finding, and H. 1056/H. 1589 would broaden hate-crime victim standing and require restitution to be used to repair harm. H. 1886 would clarify that defense-based social service staff are exempt from mandated reporter obligations when working under attorney-client privilege. The committee also heard testimony on H. 1889/S. 1064, a bill to eliminate disparate impact. Environmental justice advocates, fair housing attorneys, and community members argued that neutral policies can still produce discriminatory outcomes and that Massachusetts should allow state-court claims and a private right of action to address them. Committee members raised concerns about litigation floodgates, punitive damages, and the scope of protected classes, while supporters said the bill would mainly target systemic harms and injunctive relief. Additional testimony supported H. 1922/S. 119, the Fair Investment Act, which would create civil rights protections in venture capital and other investment settings for founders and investors, especially women and minority entrepreneurs. The hearing also included testimony on H. 1683, the Sex Trade Survivor Act, which would expand vacatur and expungement relief for trafficking survivors, remove archaic offenses from the code, and create an interagency commission; supporters emphasized reducing barriers to housing, employment, and reentry. Finally, the committee heard extensive support for H. 1753/S. 1181, establishing a commission to study reparations in Massachusetts. Testifiers described the state’s history of slavery, redlining, and ongoing racial disparities, and urged the committee to report the bill favorably. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes community supervision, treatment, recovery supports, employment services, housing referrals
• ,<00:06:15.520> employment<00:06:16.080> services,<00:06:17.120> housing supports
• , employment services, housing supports, employment services, housing referrals,<00:06:18.240> and
• care that supports long-term recovery. care that supports long-term recovery.
• . services. services.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The subcommittee received an overview of Kentucky’s specialty courts from Audrey Collins of the Department of Specialty Courts and the Administrative Office of the Courts, along with testimony from Christian County District Judge Foster Cutoff. Collins described the mission and structure of drug, mental health, and veterans treatment courts, emphasizing therapeutic jurisprudence, individualized treatment, judicial oversight, and multidisciplinary teams. She said Kentucky currently has about 2,991 active participants across the three court types, with drug courts in all 120 counties, mental health courts in 17 counties, and veterans treatment courts in eight counties. She also highlighted reported outcomes such as 7,658 entrants and 4,384 successful completions from 2020 to 2024, a five-year average completion rate of 57%, and lower recidivism among graduates than the statewide average. Collins also reviewed funding and costs, saying the department’s fiscal year 2025 budget was $18.6 million, with most of it from general funds, plus restricted and federal funds. She noted spending on personnel, treatment services, and drug testing, and said specialty courts allow participants to remain employed and meet obligations such as child support and restitution. She said participants paid more than $5.4 million in child support, restitution, and other court-related obligations over five years, and that a statewide evaluation by Morehead State University is underway. In response to questions, she said a dip in 2024 collections may have been affected by a case management system overhaul, and that court costs can be waived in some indigent cases while restitution is still required. Judge Cutoff described veterans treatment court and mental health court in Christian County, saying the programs are especially important because of the nearby Fort Campbell military community and because they help veterans with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, substance use, and related issues. He said the courts rely heavily on staff, treatment providers, and the VA, which helps connect participants to benefits and therapy. He also said mental health court participants receive housing, benefits, and medication support, and that the programs can keep people out of jail and help them stabilize. Committee members asked about the legal basis and history of the courts, and Collins explained that Kentucky’s specialty courts began as pilot programs in the mid-1990s, shifted from federal support to state funding around 2008-2009, and are now largely state funded. No votes or formal actions were taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• cable and toward streaming services and packages of streaming services.
• First, streaming services will raise their subscription rates to the level the market will support regardless
• We urgently need your advocacy to support this bill; otherwise, vital PEG services will be facing cuts
• Thank you for your time, for your service, and for your support, and thank you for taking positive action
• in the Commonwealth, providing community-based support services for individuals with disabilities.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee held its second hearing on a large docket of technology, internet, cybersecurity, broadband, and media bills. Early testimony focused on community media funding legislation, with lawmakers and local access advocates arguing that as cable subscriptions decline and streaming grows, revenue tied to cable franchises no longer supports community television and PEG programming. Supporters said community media remains a key source of local news, government meeting coverage, and civic transparency as newspapers disappear or consolidate. A related bill on cable contract oversight also drew support, with testimony that the Department of Telecommunications and Cable is backlogged and should more actively review municipal-provider agreements and report its workload to the committee. Another major topic was a proposal to create a Massachusetts Innovation Fund for state IT modernization. The Alliance for Digital Innovation backed the bill, saying agencies need flexible upfront capital to replace outdated systems and improve cybersecurity, and pointing to the federal Technology Modernization Fund as a model. The witness noted that funding for the state program still needs to be identified. The committee also heard strong support for a bill requiring free broadband in public housing, with Rep. Emmela Goodwin and MAPC describing internet access as essential for jobs, school, telehealth, and civic participation. They said the digital divide in Massachusetts is driven largely by affordability rather than infrastructure, though questions were raised about costs, wiring, and whether all housing sites already have broadband access available at the curb. A substantial portion of the hearing centered on bills to limit addictive social media feeds for minors. Supporters, including lawmakers, parents, teens, and advocacy groups, argued that algorithmic feeds contribute to addiction, anxiety, body image problems, and other harms, and said the bills would restrict surveillance-based curation and overnight notifications while leaving search and followed accounts available. Opponents, including FIRE, CCIA, and the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, argued the bills would require invasive age verification, threaten privacy and cybersecurity, burden adults’ anonymity, and likely face First Amendment challenges. They also warned the measures could disadvantage smaller businesses and may be unconstitutional based on recent court rulings in other states. The committee also heard support for blockchain-related bills creating a commission, a pilot program, and consumer education efforts, with testimony that Massachusetts has the talent but needs a coordinated state strategy. No votes or final actions were taken during the hearing.