Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, we are running a little behind schedule, so I think we should wrap up at this stage unless any
• We are running a little behind schedule.
• listen I very much appreciate you you taking the time to be with us we are running a little behind schedule
• I'd probably ask you more questions if I if we weren't but I We are running a little behind schedule

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate Committee on the Census held a hearing on September 22, 2025 focused on preparations for the 2030 census, with an emphasis on Massachusetts’ role in building a complete address list and improving local participation in census-related address review programs. Chair Brownsberger and witnesses from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office, the UMass Donahue Institute, Watertown, and MassGIS described the importance of accurate address data for congressional apportionment, federal funding, and state and local planning. They also discussed the first major upcoming step, the Block Boundary Suggestion Project, and the later Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) process, both of which rely on municipalities reviewing and correcting census geography and address files. John Rosenberry of the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office said outreach to cities and towns is beginning now, with a likely December start for the block boundary process based on the 2020 cycle. He stressed that local officials, clerks, building inspectors, housing authorities, and GIS staff should be engaged early, especially to capture new development and conversions created under the state’s housing policies. Susan Strait of UMass Donahue explained that LUCA allows local governments to compare their address lists with the Census Bureau’s master address file, and that Massachusetts had very high participation in 2020; she cited examples where local review added hidden or newly built housing units and noted that Boston later corrected a group-quarters undercount of about 6,000 students through a post-census review program. In response to questions, she clarified that those corrections affected annual estimates and funding formulas, but not the 2020 apportionment count. Watertown City Manager George Proakis described how local address review is complicated by accessory dwelling units, single-family to two-family conversions, and large multifamily projects, and urged continued state support for local governments doing this work. Dan Marrier of MassGIS then outlined the Massachusetts Master Address Database, explaining that it combines multiple sources, including E911, assessor, voter, and municipal data, to create a standardized residential address repository used for census preparation and other state functions. He said the database has helped improve census accuracy, including by updating more than one million Census Bureau address-point locations before 2020, and noted that local municipalities remain the final authority on addresses even as MassGIS standardizes and reconciles variants across the Commonwealth.

Transcript Highlights:

• Home health services: a nurse comes for a short scheduled visit, usually 15 to 16 minutes, to check a
• comes for Home health services, a nurse comes for a<00:07:21.560> short<00:07:22.080> scheduled
• visit,<00:07:23.040> usually<00:07:23.600> 15<00:07:24.120> to a short scheduled
• visit, usually 15 to a short scheduled visit, usually 15 to 16<00:07:24.680> minutes,<00:07:25.080

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard public testimony on a health insurance/home care nursing provision and on other consumer protection items. Nick Keis and Emily Walters, both parents of medically complex children, testified that commercial health plans had recently begun capping home care nursing as if it were intermittent home health visits, which they said was contrary to Minnesota law and legislative intent dating to 2010. They described severe impacts on their families, including hospitalizations, loss of nursing coverage, strain on waiver budgets, and the risk of children being forced out of the home and into institutions. Representative Bierman echoed that the bill was a straightforward clarification of existing law, not a new mandate or added cost, and a staff member later cited the statutory definition of home care nursing as ongoing, continuous nursing services that cannot be met through intermittent or visit-based care. The committee also discussed the practical difference between home health visits and private duty/home care nursing, with testimony emphasizing that the latter is medically necessary, assessed, and not unlimited in practice. Laura Sales of the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office testified on changes to the Consumer Protection Restitution Fund (CIPRA). She said the fund has begun distributing restitution, starting with consumers harmed by the closure of Woodbury Dental Arts, but that current statutory language limits the office’s flexibility to prorate payments. She asked for an amendment allowing the AGO to distribute available funds more equitably so more eligible consumers can receive some payment, rather than requiring full payment to the oldest claims first. Annette Meeks, representing Citizens Against Gambling Expansion, testified in support of banning sweepstakes gambling in the Commerce Committee omnibus report. She argued that online sweepstakes casinos are an illegal gray-market form of gambling, cited rapid growth and billions in revenue, and said other states have acted through enforcement and legislation to stop them. She urged the committee to include language from Senate File 4474 to clarify state law and prohibit sweepstakes gambling. No votes were taken in the portion of the meeting shown; members mainly asked questions and received testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• provide for the House and Senate Committees on Governmental Affairs to meet and adopt rules and a schedule
• We don't have the meeting schedule yet, though. So that's kind of why it's the way it is.
• then would be meeting about in the, what we've called the off-season, to talk about that, to do the schedule
• So the committees do meet, but that's on the off schedules. That's the days that I'm talking about.

Bills: HR3, HR80, HB4, HB172, HB189, HB623, HB944, HB1185, HB1199, HB1222, SB105, SB125, SB461

Keywords: housing assistance, state-owned property, cost-burdened, state employees, affordable housing, fiscal audit, higher education, public funds, underrepresented minorities, Board of Regents, Louisiana legislation, constitutional convention, Louisiana constitution, electoral process, government structure, delegate elections, airport authority, fire protection, supplemental pay, public safety

Summary: The committee first took up Senate Bill 105, which would reinstate an existing TOPS Tech benefit for eligible veterans after a sunset expired. The author said the program had been underused because it was not well promoted, but that the new veterans workforce effort called “The Boot” would help connect veterans to the benefit. Members confirmed it would use existing TOPS funds and not require new money, and the bill was reported favorably without objection. House Resolution 3 asked the Louisiana Housing Corporation to study whether vacant state-owned property could be used for housing and rental assistance for cost-burdened state employees. The author described it as an exploratory study, while members raised concerns about the fiscal note and the scope of the study. Fiscal staff explained the agency had requested additional positions to do the work. The committee discussed narrowing the study to certain areas, but the resolution was ultimately reported favorably. House Bill 189 sought supplemental pay for fire protection officers at the Lakefront Management Authority’s airport. The author and airport representatives argued the firefighters perform hazardous, specialized ARFF duties at a busy public airport and should be treated like other supplemental-pay recipients. Some members questioned whether the airport and its employees qualified under existing law and whether the proposal would expand an already costly program. After debate, the committee rejected the bill on an 8-10 vote. The committee then reported Senate Bill 461 favorably, which would place certain small groups of active employees under the Office of Group Benefits to improve insurance rates without using general fund money. House Bill 623, creating a three-tier permitting system for vapor product producers, manufacturers, and wholesalers, was amended to clarify the direct-to-consumer shipment prohibition and then reported favorably. House Bill 1222, which would authorize LED to create a grocery initiative grant and assistance program to address food deserts, drew extended debate over whether it would amount to government-run grocery stores; supporters said it would only create incentives for private grocers and related assistance. It was amended and reported favorably by a 16-2 vote. Finally, House Resolution 80, as amended, would shift a proposed audit-related effort on higher education budget metrics away from the legislative auditor and toward university systems’ own boards; members questioned the need for a look-back report and the added workload, and the chair indicated he would move to recommit the resolution to the education committee.

Transcript Highlights:

• acknowledge that the decision to waive your jury trial right might be because you cannot then be scheduled
• acknowledge that the decision to waive your jury trial right might be because you cannot then be scheduled
• acknowledge that the decision to waive your jury trial right might be because you cannot then be scheduled
• for several. to waive your jury trial right might be because you cannot then be scheduled for several

Bills: HCR50, HB123, HB219, HB251, HB404, HB769, HB1065, SB58, SB81, SB92, SB97, SB141, SB156, SB181, SB207, SB396, SB410

Keywords: electronic monitoring, GPS ankle monitor, ankle bracelet, pretrial release, post-conviction supervision, bail monitoring, house arrest, corrections, criminal justice, law enforcement, prosecuting authority, court reporting, provider registration, LCLE, Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice, data privacy, personal information, cybersecurity, confidentiality, monitoring violations

Summary: The Criminal Justice Committee met on May 6, 2026, and first considered SB 396, which would allow children in Office of Juvenile Justice custody to attend review hearings by secure video conference. After adopting an amendment to clarify the in-person six-month review requirement and require OJJ staff to participate virtually as well, the committee reported the bill favorably as amended. The committee then took up SB 181, which creates a limited raffle license for nonprofit health care organizations and allows related entities within a health system to operate under one charitable gaming license; after adopting the amendment, the bill was reported favorably as amended. The committee next debated SB 81 and SB 97, companion measures dealing with waiver of jury trials in non-capital felony cases. Supporters, including the Louisiana District Attorneys Association, argued that requiring prosecutorial consent would align Louisiana with federal practice and many other states and would reduce abuse of jury-trial waivers. Opponents, including criminal defense lawyers, the ACLU, and Vote, argued the bills would shift power to the state, reduce defendants’ control over their mode of trial, and could worsen delays and pressure on jailed defendants. SB 81 and SB 97 both passed on divided roll-call votes, 7-3. The committee also reported SB 207 favorably, extending the prescriptive period for certain public corruption offenses to 10 years after an elected official or public employee leaves office; SB 92, requiring district attorneys to submit sexual assault kits to the statewide tracking system; SB 156, increasing the maximum penalty for negligent homicide, with a technical amendment; SB 58, imposing a mandatory minimum for aggravated flight from an officer and dedicating fine proceeds to pursuit training/technology; SB 141, moving the Integrated Criminal Justice Information System Policy Board to the Louisiana Supreme Court; and SB 410, creating enhanced penalties for accessories after the fact to sex offenses. Later, HB 769, dealing with a holding period for certain domestic violence-related offenders, was reported favorably as amended after debate over its relationship to existing “Gwen’s Law” procedures, and HB 251, requiring notice to victims or families in resentencing matters, was also reported favorably as amended after concerns about post-conviction procedure and possible duplication of existing notice requirements. The committee additionally voluntarily deferred HB 404 and heard HCR 50, which calls for reporting on opioid abatement and treatment programs in correctional facilities and clarification of funding guidance.

Transcript Highlights:

• All this amendment does is it replaces line 114 on page five with the following: The date scheduled for
• The<00:37:36.960> date<00:37:37.320> scheduled<00:37:38.240> for<00:37:38.520>
• > the<00:37:38.640> 2026<00:37:39.600> general The date scheduled for the 2026 general
• The date scheduled for the 2026 general election,<00:37:41.120> F1.

Bills: SB1

Keywords: special primary election, redistricting, State Senate districts, federal court ruling, injunction, vacated order, election calendar, 2026 general election, 2026 primary election, runoff election, party nominee, Governor proclamation, Alabama elections, district boundaries, court-ordered redistricting, special election, nomination process, Secretary of State, election law, 923

Transcript Highlights:

• call of the chair for the purposes of introducing legislation, re-referring bills to committee, scheduling
• :27:53.480> committee, re-referring bills to committee, re-referring bills to committee, scheduling
• <01:27:54.440> hearings,<01:27:54.880> sending<01:27:55.320> and scheduling hearings
• , sending and scheduling hearings, sending and receiving<01:27:56.040> messages,<01:27:57.160>

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Local boards retain full authority over scheduling and may adopt release time policies to meet local
• 26.399> over Local boards retain full authority over Local boards retain full authority over scheduling
• 27.519> may<00:15:27.760> adopt<00:15:28.639> release<00:15:29.040> time scheduling
• and may adopt release time scheduling and may adopt release time policies<00:15:30.079> to<00

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• If sharing my story encourages even one Kentuckian to schedule a screening, then it is worth it.
• one If sharing my story encourages even one Kentuckian Kentuckian Kentuckian to<00:51:44.480> schedule
• > screening,<00:51:45.640> then<00:51:45.800> it<00:51:45.920> is to schedule
• a screening, then it is to schedule a screening, then it is worth<00:51:46.360> it.

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The House convened, received the invocation and Pledge of Allegiance, established a quorum, excused absent members, and approved the journal. The clerk also announced Senate passage of Senate Bills 59, 137, 177, and 199 and requested concurrence. The chamber then moved into second reading, reporting a slate of bills and resolutions on health care, energy, child welfare, Medicaid, workplace violence, and coal/energy assessment, before proceeding to third reading and passage of several measures. A major focus was House Bill 542 on eminent domain. The sponsor described it as a transparency measure to improve communication with property owners, require better notice, prohibit misleading statements, allow owner-paid appraisals to be used throughout negotiations, and account for agricultural improvements and access. Members discussed the bill’s intent to treat property owners fairly and reduce court costs; the House adopted House Committee Substitute 1 and passed the bill 89-0. House Bill 565 on fire protection was presented as technical cleanup to clarify enforcement authority for local fire appeal boards created last year, and it passed 91-0. The House also passed House Bill 611 on domestic relations, which creates a 10-year interpersonal protective order for certain felony assault convictions involving family members, unmarried couples, or dating partners, and updates domestic violence data reporting requirements; the committee substitute was adopted and the bill passed 91-0. House Bill 657 on professional licensing background checks was explained as giving five licensure boards authority to obtain FBI ORI numbers so they can receive fingerprint background checks and comply with interstate compacts; it passed 91-0. House Bill 762 on legal representation was amended on the floor to avoid excluding appellate attorneys, then passed 91-0; it was described as clarifying Department of Public Advocacy representation and related salary provisions. The House also passed House Bill 108 on solid waste management, which its sponsor said closes a loophole allowing residual waste landfills to be sited in a different county from the industry without local input; it passed 79-8. House Bill 67 on schools, a cleanup measure to prior legislation requiring traceable communication systems for school employees, was introduced with a committee substitute and discussed as clarifying definitions and exemptions while preserving protections for students; the transcript cuts off before the final vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• We have an additional 17 awards so far in fiscal year 26 that are closed or closing is scheduled, and
• year 26 that are closed or or<00:14:24.240> closing<00:14:24.560> is<00:14:24.720> scheduled
• > And<00:14:25.680> we<00:14:25.839> have<00:14:25.839> a or closing is scheduled
• And we have a or closing is scheduled.

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The Minnesota Department of Agriculture presented an overview of its budget, staffing, and major program areas, including protection services, marketing, and administration. Commissioners also highlighted concerns about federal funding uncertainty after a January letter suspending active and future USDA awards to the department. They said the issue affected about 13% of the agency’s budget, created confusion for farmers, and briefly disrupted poultry lab testing and HPAI-related work, though they later received assurances from USDA leadership that existing programs would continue processing. The department also described its anti-fraud efforts, including internal controls, a compliance coordinator, a grants administrator, review committees, site visits, and participation in the state’s Inspector General Coordinating Council. The committee then discussed several agriculture support programs. For dairy margin coverage, the department said Minnesota’s sign-up is open and supported a bill to extend assistance to farmers who began operations in 2023-2025 and were not covered under the earlier production-based formula. The renamed Farm to Food Security program, formerly LFPA, was described as a state-created local food purchasing effort funded at $700,000 per year. The down payment assistance grant for first-time farm buyers was also reviewed; the department said it has supported 112 farmers so far, with additional awards pending, but noted timing problems when purchase agreements fall through. Members asked whether priority should be given to applicants with signed purchase agreements, and the department said that was under consideration. The grain indemnity account update focused on the Hansen-Mueller facility failure and related claims. The department said the account holds about $10.7 million, has received 19 claims totaling $1.1 million, and that $842,000 of those claims were tied specifically to Minnesota transactions. It explained the difference by noting that some claims involved Minnesota farmers selling in North Dakota and Wisconsin, and that the indemnity account covers grains sold in Minnesota. The committee also heard updates on elk and wolf depredation payments, with the department projecting shortfalls in both funds and noting that payments are being delayed into later months. The agriculture response fund balance was said to be about $2.5 million. Finally, the Rural Finance Authority and the East Grand Forks potato facility were discussed. The RFA reported strong demand for low-interest loans, about $26 million remaining from the prior $50 million authorization, and a new $50 million bonding request in the governor’s proposal to avoid a funding gap. The department said the program has issued 3,951 loans totaling about $390.3 million with very low defaults. It also requested $1.38 million in bonding for building improvements at the East Grand Forks potato facility, which it said is the department’s only owned building and supports a significant potato industry. In response to a question from Rep. Bang, the commissioner said recent ICE activity had affected farms, processing plants, immigrant workers, and some rural food businesses, and that the department had relayed those concerns to the governor’s office and congressional delegation.

Transcript Highlights:

• Going back to the schedule. >> Yes. So now we'll go back.
• <00:12:40.079> back<00:12:40.240> to<00:12:40.399> the<00:12:40.560> schedule
• Going back to the schedule. >> Okay. Going back to the schedule.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• All right, so looking at the schedule, the next three bills, we've got our whip, Madam Whip.
• We had a third one scheduled; it was canceled, and asked that we rescheduled, but have not come back
• We had a third one scheduled; it was canceled, and we asked that it be rescheduled, but have not come
• I don't know if it was something with their scheduling and their docket or what it was, but there wasn't

Bills: HB2180, HB2184, HB2188, HB2194, HB2206, HB2321, HB2322, HB2438, HB2442, HB2448, HB2727, HB2797

Keywords: appropriation, funding, University of Arizona, education, state budget, fetal death, funeral homes, informed consent, abortion, women's rights, medical assistance, emotional support, language acquisition, early intervention, hearing impairment, grant program, deaf education, health care, insurance claims, prior authorization

Transcript Highlights:

• I just have a question about scheduling. Do we have committee next Tuesday? Do we know?
• 01:15:50.400> a<01:15:50.480> question<01:15:50.880> about<01:15:51.120> scheduling
• a a question about scheduling. a a question about scheduling.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• or state legislative district at a point in time too late to be accommodated in a normal primary schedule
• change or alteration is made at a time too late to be accommodated during the normal primary election schedule
• change or alteration is made at a time too late to be accommodated during the normal primary election schedule
• change or alteration is made at a time too late to be accommodated during the normal primary election schedule

Bills: SB23, SB71, SB105, SB109, SB115, SB131, SB148, SB165

Keywords: law enforcement, taser, restrained individuals, police procedures, civil rights, income tax, tax exemption, Alabama tax code, Section 40-18-3, civilian employees, Department of Defense, DoD, Armed Forces, military pay, combat zone, deployment, National Guard, Reserve components, emergency response, federal employees

Transcript Highlights:

• Back to regular schedule program. You guys ready? thank you. That was excellent. And you thank you.
• <00:48:46.960> Back<00:48:47.200> to<00:48:47.359> regular<00:48:47.760> schedule
• Back to regular schedule >> Appreciate you. Back to regular schedule program.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Have a happy Hanukkah or Christmas season, and we are scheduled next for Friday, January 23rd at 10:00
• ;> Hanukkah or Christmas seasons and we are >> Hanukkah or Christmas seasons and we are scheduled
• > for<00:53:57.119> Friday,<00:53:57.599> January<00:53:58.240> 23rd scheduled
• next for Friday, January 23rd scheduled next for Friday, January 23rd at<00:53:59.920> 10:00.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met on December 19, 2025, approved the draft minutes from the November 21 regular meeting, and received a DHS commissioners update. Patricia Tilly reported on the state’s rural health transformation application, saying CMS had provided only one question and positive feedback, that the final federal award amount was still pending, and that DHS was preparing an accept-and-expend item for fiscal review using an up-to amount. She also said the new Hampstead YDC facility remains on track, with substantive construction expected by late summer 2026 and move-in likely in early January 2027. In response to questions, she confirmed the playground/outdoor activity area had been in the original design and was added when funding became available. Henry Litman, Medicaid director, discussed the Senate Bill 248 study committee report on palliative and hospice care. He explained the distinction between palliative care, which can be provided while a patient still seeks curative treatment, and hospice care, which involves electing not to pursue curative services. He said the committee’s work pointed to a need for better education for providers and the public, and described ongoing conversations with the Foundation for Healthy Communities and Home Health and Hospice about developing materials and possibly addressing how palliative services are bundled. He also said the study committee itself did not generate future legislation, though members could pursue it separately. Litman then answered questions about Medicaid eligibility and long-term services and supports, including delays in processing, the backlog from pandemic-era redeterminations, and efforts to speed reviews. He said the department is using temporary staffing funded in part by last session’s legislation, working with the New Hampshire Healthcare Association, counties, and UNH Law to streamline policy and training, and relying more on electronic asset verification while still guarding against improper asset transfers. He emphasized the goal of balancing faster access to benefits with compliance and fraud prevention. Robert Rodler followed with the annual tuition waiver update for children in foster care or guardianship. He reported 82 applicants and 65 waivers granted, including 35 for USNH schools and 30 for the community college system, and noted a correction would be issued for inaccurate continuing/new student figures in the report. Senator Gray said he intends to pursue a separate budget appropriation for these tuition waiver costs in the future so the funding would be clearly identified and easier to track. No additional votes were taken beyond approval of the minutes.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're a little bit behind schedule, but we'll kick it off. How about if we can start?
• We currently have six species of native grasses growing or scheduled to grow on six different science
• Let me ask you on one of your sheets, and I just don't know what this is on your construction schedule
• And so, Joey, this is the construction schedule for FY27.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're ahead of schedule. And we'll ask everybody, you're very free to stand, sit down, or head out.
• Chair and Representative Garrett, I don't know if it's scheduled for the LFC, but if we don't have one
• We are behind schedule, but we can shorten our lunch just a little bit.
• We'll get started at 1:30, so it'll be a little bit behind schedule, but we'll work, to catch up.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Our previously two scheduled meetings were canceled, as you all well know, because of our two special
• We are running a bit behind schedule, so Welcome.
• We are running a bit behind schedule, so asking committee members to tighten questions and for our presenters
• to help us get back on schedule if possible.

Keywords: 996, all

Transcript Highlights:

• To actual students' class schedules, so that the students do have the ability to meet with us every day
• And committee members, whoa, we're ahead of schedule. I don't think our next... is she here? Oh.
• I know we're ahead of schedule, which we don't know what to do with time, but we'll...
• With that, we are way ahead of schedule, so I’m going to give you four minutes if you would like them

Transcript Highlights:

• January 1st of this year, as many of you know, we implemented and adjusted our fee schedule, which had
• Toby, thank you very much for your division's work on the fee schedule.
• I would love to invite you to our ribbon-cutting ceremony if your schedule allows.
• managed charging program that we're testing as well, where we ask customers to give us permission to schedule