Transcript Highlights:

• Association so um I just wanted to start Association so um I just wanted to start by<01:57:20.679
• They have three years to start a BSN program, okay?
• start before they start the role in the beginning of August.
• <02:18:36.399> start<02:18:37.240> before give them sort of that jump start before
• give them sort of that jump start before they<02:18:38.000> start<02:18:38.359> the<02:

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• usually with the overwhelming majority of these cases, whenever the process has been disputed are started
• Good jump ahead. 11.
• Thank you, Madam Chair. >> You know, Bill started as a simple bill and it will and do something else
• While this is not the entire package for the rural communities, it is a very, very good start in the
• So if you just want to jump right into that, you're more than welcome to. >> Thank you, Madam Chair,

Transcript Highlights:

• We're starting a little bit late.
• But we're going to go ahead and get started now.
• Starting in real discipline and focus.
• Where where do we start mandating stop?
• <01:15:33.120> seeing can deal with that if we start seeing can deal with that if we start

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And in the title game, Decar<00:09:15.120> jumped<00:09:15.440> on<00:09:15.600> the
• We'll start with the Finance Committee. This will be report number two.
• Before we jump to the next one, Senator from Carroll County. committee report. committee report.
• It's been a strange start<01:08:54.239> to<01:08:54.400> session.
• I uh I really feel and start to session.

Keywords: Senate streaming session for Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 960, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with an invocation, confirmed a quorum, and welcomed several guests and groups, including Maryland Library Association members, Stephen Decatur High School’s boys soccer team, Clarksburg High School’s girls flag football team, NAMI representatives, Baltimore Promise, local soil conservation district representatives, and a 911 center leader. The chamber also journalized the invocation and prepared for the Governor’s upcoming State of the State address by exchanging messages with the House and appointing Senate members to escort the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The body then took up a series of Finance Committee bills, most of them receiving favorable reports and being ordered to third reading without objection. Measures discussed included SB 14 on small business health insurance SHOP enrollment effective dates; SB 22 on Department of Disabilities housing programs and affiliated foundations; SB 134 on Medicare supplement policy enrollment periods; SB 139 on third-party administrator enforcement; SB 199 on the Individuals with Disabilities and Service-Disabled Veterans Voting Fund; SB 205 codifying federal mental health parity requirements; SB 216 on unemployment insurance confidentiality; SB 43 on the Maryland Community Investment Venture Fund; SB 46 on state veterans cemeteries interment provisions; and SB 226 on the Maryland Heritage Area Authority. Several bills had brief amendments or procedural issues. SB 22 received a technical amendment changing “Attorney General” to “Office of the Attorney General.” SB 199 received an amendment adding a co-sponsor, and SB 46 was briefly set to lie over under the rule after a senator requested time to review a technical clarification. The chamber also received House Bill 1, which was referred to committee, and SB 624 was reassigned to the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee. Most committee reports were adopted unanimously or without objection, and the Senate repeatedly congratulated the honored school teams and library advocates.

Transcript Highlights:

• I had a question on page 43, and I think you had just jumped to 48, so it seemed like the time to jump
• insight when they start to design that. insight when they start to design that.
• So, so they're starting to lag as data. So, so they're starting to lag as well. well. well.
• That<03:47:18.360> started That started That started just<03:47:20.040> a<03:47:20.120>
• We're starting to get a Park County. We're starting to get a different<03:49:07.560> herds.

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• public food service establishments whose principal attraction is sports horse events such as show jumping
• So let me start in on the harbor pilots.
• Some years ago, I jumped on a boat with harbor pilots, rode out in the Gulf of Mexico, climbed up the
• I worked for a company called Advanced Fire Protection Services, which was started in '89 by my father-in-law

Summary: The committee first took up a local beverage-license bill for the World Equestrian Center in Marion County. The sponsor described the facility’s size, economic impact, and rapid expansion, and explained that the bill would direct DBPR to issue a special license for qualifying equestrian sports facilities. After questions about whether the carve-out would set a precedent for other businesses, the sponsor said the unique facts of the facility justified the bill. An amendment narrowed the off-premises alcohol authority so the license would allow beer and wine only for off-premises sales, while still allowing on-premises sales of all alcoholic beverages and a standalone bar on the premises. The amendment was adopted, and the bill passed 16-1, with Representative Rayner voting no. The committee then heard PCS for HB 1461, a broad regulatory-reform bill that would repeal continuing education requirements for certain licensed professionals, eliminate several boards/councils/commissions at DBPR and DACS, remove some secondary licenses, and expand licensure pathways. The sponsors argued that most complaints are already handled administratively, that the boards create bureaucracy and cost, and that the bill would improve efficiency without changing initial licensure standards. Members raised concerns about whether DBPR has the subject-matter expertise to replace professional boards, especially for engineering, harbor pilots, electrical work, home inspection, architecture, interior design, and related fields, and about whether removing continuing education could weaken public safety and code compliance. Public testimony on the PCS was mixed but leaned strongly against the bill from affected professions. Opponents from architecture, electrical contracting, home inspection, geology, interior design, real estate, and related groups argued that the boards provide technical expertise, discipline, and updated knowledge tied to changing building codes and safety standards, and that continuing education is important for public protection. Some supporters, including representatives of CPAs and landscape architects, said they appreciated efforts to streamline licensing and reduce anti-competitive barriers but still had concerns about specific provisions. The committee adopted two amendments: one requiring 30 days’ notice for an address change for a prescription sales business, and a second technical amendment. No final vote on the PCS was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• you<00:02:44.800> want<00:02:44.959> to<00:02:45.040> just<00:02:45.200> jump
• If not, you want to just jump Savannah?
• If not, you want to just jump into<00:02:47.040> Sorry,<00:02:47.360> you're<00:02:47.840
• We apologize for the delayed start. We had a few joint agendas earlier today.
• Outside of my home a few months ago, there was climbing vines that were starting at the ground, going

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committees heard and acted on several resolutions related to housing, emergency preparedness, public safety, corrections, transportation, and wildfire mitigation. Measures discussed included HCR 67 on developing a comprehensive strategy for updated building codes; HCR 164 on maintaining publicly accessible hurricane shelter lists; HCR 180 on coordinated homelessness response; HCR 37 on emergency outreach to kupuna; HCR 121 on expanding Kolekole Pass as an emergency exit route; HCR 43 on studying highway patrol and speed cameras; HR 69 on vegetation management and wildfire risk; HCR 133 on supporting a floating dry dock at Pearl Harbor; HCR 153 on reducing the use of private out-of-state prisons; and HTR 23 on the new Oahu Community Correctional Center design and inmate release procedures. Testimony was largely supportive across the agenda. Supporters included state agencies, advocacy groups, and individuals, with some measures drawing comments or suggested amendments. For HCR 69, the Division of Consumer Advocacy, PUC, Hawaiian Electric, Charter Communications, and Life of the Land all supported the measure, though some requested amendments or raised due process concerns. For HCR 121, the Department of Transportation said improvements were planned later in the year to allow emergency access through Kolekole Pass, and public testimony emphasized wildfire, tsunami, and evacuation concerns. For HCR 43, DOT supported the study, and testimony noted possible benefits for enforcement and court efficiency. HCR 37 received strong support from ARP Hawaii, social work students, caregivers, and other community groups focused on kupuna safety. The committees took action on all items. HCR 67, HCR 164, HCR 180, HCR 37, HCR 121, HCR 43, HCR 133, HCR 153, and HTR 23 were all recommended for passage, with some measures passed as is and others with amendments. HCR 69 was amended to add the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the Department of Education, and to incorporate suggested amendments from Charter Communications and Hawaiian Telecom. HCR 121 was passed with technical amendments. Votes were recorded in favor on each measure, with some members excused and one no vote noted on HCR 43. The meetings concluded with adjournment after the final votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• Sustainable Development: mainly, our testimony is about finding ways to expedite permitting instead of just jumping
• ways to expedite permitting instead of ways to expedite permitting instead of just<00:04:40.240> jumping
• <00:04:41.240> through<00:04:41.600> the<00:04:41.880> approval just jumping
• through the approval just jumping through the approval process<00:04:42.720> from<00:04:42.960
• We'll start our decision-making with Senate Bill 27 relating to housing.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on a series of housing measures focused on streamlining approvals, reshaping financing programs, and expanding affordability requirements. SB 27 would exempt state-financed housing developments from County Council approval; SB 38 would bar county legislative bodies from changing housing proposals in ways that increase project costs; SB 25 would let counties reduce housing capacity in one area only if they offset it elsewhere with no net loss; and SB 379 would require perpetual affordability covenants for HHFDC projects and prohibit affordable housing in special flood hazard areas. SB 378 would create an HHFDC working group to identify mixed-use Maui properties for possible acquisition, SB 414 would authorize condemnation proceedings for a new Lānaʻi access road tied to disaster recovery, and SB 13 would eliminate the state income tax mortgage interest deduction for second homes. Testimony was mixed across the bills, with state agencies and housing advocates generally supporting faster permitting and more production, while county planners, NAIOP, Catholic Charities, and others raised concerns about local control, marketability, financing feasibility, and long-term affordability enforcement. A major portion of the hearing centered on the rental housing revolving fund. SB 70 would limit eligible applicants to government agencies or organizations that reinvest all surplus into additional housing; HHFDC said most developers would not object in principle but questioned how the surplus requirement would be enforced, while NAIOP and Catholic Charities opposed it as too restrictive and difficult to monitor. SB 71 would amend the fund’s preference criteria and eligibility rules, and SB 163 would require HHFDC to prioritize projects with the shortest repayment terms and highest unit production per dollar per year. HHFDC and some advocates supported the goal of faster recycling of funds, but NAIOP and Catholic Charities warned that shorter loan terms and narrowed preferences could burden developers and disincentivize projects, especially for lower-income tenants. The chair indicated SB 163 would be deferred and its concerns folded into amendments to SB 71. In decision-making, the committee voted to pass SB 27, SB 38, SB 70, and SB 71 with amendments, and SB 25 unamended. The chair said SB 27 would be amended to include projects with a state financing commitment and a report note that such projects still undergo 21-38 review; SB 38 would receive technical changes and language preventing county bodies from imposing cost-increasing conditions; SB 70 would add language addressing enforcement of the surplus requirement and a preamble citing the need to recycle taxpayer-financed housing value; and SB 71 would be amended to incorporate concerns raised in SB 163, including a broader preamble and revised priority criteria. SB 163 was deferred, while the other measures on the agenda were heard but no final action was described in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• There's a short amount of time from the election to the start of session for new legislators.
• Yeah, I mean, I'll use one of the survey questions again, and jumping around.
• When we started, I was like, jeepers, we almost need like a kindergarten readiness assessment.
• You folks online, is there any, any, anybody like to jump in with any questions?
• Now they know quite a bit more about education than they did when they started.

Summary: The Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee met with a quorum, approved the prior minutes, and then took up a draft bill to make legislators’ and candidates’ residential addresses confidential in public records. Legislative Council and the Secretary of State explained the proposal was prompted by security concerns and would protect residential addresses while still allowing election officials to verify residency and keep candidate names and offices public. Members raised concerns about unintended consequences, transparency, and how the change would affect rural districts and residency enforcement. The Secretary of State suggested an amendment to end the confidentiality when a candidate’s term ends, and the committee agreed to hold the bill over for further discussion at the next meeting. The committee also reviewed follow-up materials on legislator security and best practices, including advice on situational awareness, internet hygiene, varying routines, and reporting threats, along with NCSL materials comparing capitol security practices in other states. Members discussed a recent security incident and the need to keep alert contact information current, and staff said they would continue working with the Highway Patrol on legislative-specific notifications. The bulk of the meeting was devoted to Garrity Consulting’s final report on mitigating the effects of legislative term limits. The consultants summarized survey, focus group, and stakeholder input showing concerns about loss of institutional knowledge, leadership turnover, onboarding demands, and workload pressures, while also noting public support for term limits and annual sessions. Recommendations included considering annual sessions or shifting biennial sessions to even-numbered years, restructuring organizational session and interim committee work, creating office hours and more structured orientation and mentorship, expanding ongoing training and staff support, improving public communication and virtual testimony rules, and addressing barriers to service such as employer support and travel costs. Members discussed the tension between making the legislature more effective and preserving a citizen-legislature model, and the report was received as a roadmap for future implementation rather than immediate action.

Transcript Highlights:

• you for letting me jump in there. you for letting me jump in there.
• <00:48:20.560> to we're actually getting we're starting to we're actually getting we're starting
• We work with Feeding the Gulf Coast to have in-reach to start with SNAP.
• We work with Feeding the Gulf Coast to have in-reach to start with SNAP.
• <00:53:34.400> developing prior to release to start developing prior to release to start developing

Keywords: 924, joint, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Given that we are a late start today and we only have the room until five o'clock, we really ask that
• When three strong mayoral candidates with somewhat different constituencies ran for office, at the start
• So I can start with that one, if you want.
• So if the 2020 election wasn't hard enough, we started to administer ranked choice elections.
• This visual, let me start at the top left. Is that the top left? Yes.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Election Laws held a public hearing focused primarily on ranked choice voting (RCV) legislation and several local home rule petitions, along with one petition to authorize remote participation in Concord town meetings. Chairs Keenan and Hunt outlined hearing procedures and noted the committee would hear both in-person and virtual testimony. The committee also took testimony on Concord’s request for remote participation in open and special town meetings, with supporters arguing it would make town meeting more accessible to residents with childcare, mobility, work, or disability barriers while preserving direct democracy. A large portion of the hearing centered on RCV local-option bills and municipal petitions from communities including Concord, East Hampton, Salem, Chelsea, Arlington, Revere, Amherst, and others. Supporters—among them local officials, legislators, election advocates, educators, veterans, and nonprofit leaders—said RCV would reduce vote-splitting, encourage more candidates, promote more positive campaigning, improve representation, and increase turnout. East Hampton officials described their existing use of RCV, saying it produced record turnout, was easy for voters to understand with education, and could be expanded to multi-winner races without major added cost. Concord and Amherst witnesses said their voters had already approved local steps toward RCV and urged the committee to let municipalities implement the system without further delay. Testimony in favor of the local-option RCV bill emphasized home rule and local control, with several witnesses arguing the state should not block communities that have already voted to adopt RCV. Speakers from MassVOTE, the AFT Massachusetts, Voter Choice Massachusetts, Progressive Massachusetts, the Boston Teachers Union, and Veterans for All Voters said the reform would strengthen democracy, broaden participation, and save money by avoiding low-turnout preliminary elections. Some witnesses also referenced examples from Cambridge, Maine, and Utah to argue that RCV is workable, nonpartisan, and familiar to voters. The hearing ended with no votes or final committee action taken in the transcript provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• Calculation of starting salaries would be simplified to change with the times.
• It would be for IRB projects starting Mark Trujillo: July 1.
• That jumps off the page.
• I'm jumping around here. When you're ready, I'm ready with the motion.
• Let's get her started.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're basically going to go in order, but I'll let you know when we jump around.
• for the local municipal police a couple of years ago, it is now a competitive thing where we will Start
• And so reforms are working to where now the state can start reducing that contribution.
• You still want to start with the PCTC? You are recognized presenting House Bill 3705.
• Ronald Reagan was the person that started that. That's where somebody makes $20,000 a year.

Bills: HB1675, HB3242, HB1739, HB3320, HB3047, HB4434, HJR1089, HB4432, HB3718, HB3705

Keywords: emergency management, severe weather, youth camp, summer camp, overnight camp, day camp, outdoor education, adventure camp, wilderness program, campground safety, tornado preparedness, flooding, flash flood, high winds, hail, lightning, extreme heat, extreme cold, wildfire smoke, evacuation plan

Transcript Highlights:

• hours when we'll start hours when we'll start um<00:38:34.440> our<00:38:34.680> hearing
• You stated that they sign their contract before they start work.
• You stated that they sign their contract before they start work.
• Could start getting benefits and that type of thing.
• <04:00:16.080> charging<04:00:16.479> you start we're going to start charging you start

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So let's start with questions. Representative Gress. Thank you, Madam Chair. Amen.
• So let's start with questions, Representative Gress. Thank you, Madam Chair.
• Do you want to start with that? You call the order, Carly. There you go, Carly.
• to consider, not consider, start compensating passed since 2011 and start to consider, not consider,
• I know, you keep jumping right to that, though. I wanted an innocent, Mr.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 2307, as amended, which would require the Department of Health Services to contract with out-of-state secure mental health facilities when Arizona beds are unavailable for certain involuntary commitment cases involving defendants found dangerous and incompetent. The sponsor and supporters framed it as an emergency stopgap to prevent individuals who are deemed non-restorable from being released because Arizona lacks secure behavioral health beds, while opponents argued it would raise due process, disability rights, family access, and cost concerns, and questioned whether the state could even implement such interstate placements. After debate, the committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and advanced HB 2307 on a 6-5 due pass vote. The committee then heard House Bill 2083, which updates diabetes-related coverage language in health plans to include newer devices and supplies such as continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and smart insulin pens. Supporters said the bill modernizes outdated statutes and improves access and outcomes for people with diabetes, while an insurer representative offered soft opposition, warning that writing these items into statute could create a state mandate and potential cost exposure, especially if the language is read to include GLP-1 medications. The committee adopted the strike-everything amendment and moved HB 2083 forward on an 11-1 due pass vote. Next, House Bill 2673 was heard, addressing mental health screening and treatment for incarcerated people. The sponsor said the bill was being reworked into a study committee concept after stakeholder feedback, but the underlying proposal would require prompt evaluation of prisoners showing mental disorder symptoms and faster referral for treatment. A family member testified about her son’s severe deterioration in jail and death, while an attorney opposed the bill as overbroad and legally problematic. Despite the sponsor’s indication that the bill would become a study committee, the committee voted 12-0 to give HB 2673 a due pass recommendation. The committee also advanced House Bill 2923, which revises timelines, procedures, and notice requirements for judicial review of court-ordered mental health treatment; supporters said it clarifies outdated language and improves communication with families, while opponents argued it shifts burdens onto patients and could prolong confinement. HB 2923 also received a 12-0 due pass vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since we do not have a quorum, we'll start as a subcommittee. Oh, we have Mr. Fong showing up.
• You may start when you are ready. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
• We're off to a good start. I think I was on my honeymoon for that hearing.
• And so we would urge your support, and we appreciate the administration jumping on this so quickly, and

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And sort of jump in instance only. Okay.
• My colleagues are jumping up. Thank you. My colleagues are jumping up. Thank you.
• Um and I will start with speak.
• <01:46:41.360> to value moved against it, it started to value moved against it, it started
• Can I start over? Does the clock start?

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• going to tell family doctors to start going to tell family doctors to start performing<00:38:27.760
• <01:24:28.239> with proposal was wrongheaded to start with proposal was wrongheaded to start
• And so then I'll just, before I go further, jump into what the A25 amendment does.
• jump into what the A25 amendment does. jump into what the A25 amendment does.
• had I wanted to jump had I wanted to jump into<01:51:53.199> okay<01:51:53.760> when

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• My time is about to end, and so I want to just jump over here.
• They started in Jefferson County. That is what it is about.
• I want to start by thanking everyone in here.
• The man got out of the van and proceeded to jump down our driveway.
• She saw him jump the fence and started running. Running.

Transcript Highlights:

• Primarily, this is an organizational meeting, but we'll get started now.
• Let's start with the pledge.
• It seems like and not jump to human.
• But I think that's where we could at least start.
• He's done outstanding work to get a lot of this started.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The Special Committee on COVID Response Efficacy for New Hampshire held its first organizational meeting. The chair read the committee’s updated mission statement, which says the bipartisan committee will fact-find on the state’s COVID-19 response and its impact on the healthcare system, with focus areas including federal guidance, federal funds, emergency use authorization vaccination efforts, long COVID, the Patient Bill of Rights, and vaccination policies. The chair also announced committee staffing changes: Linda McGrath stepped down as vice chair and Representative Gerard was named vice chair; Representative DeRoy was named clerk. The chair emphasized the committee’s work is intended to be science-based and fact-finding, not anti-vaccine, and noted that the committee may issue follow-up reports and recommendations. Members discussed a broad list of topics for future hearings, including long COVID treatment, ongoing vaccination policies, reporting of COVID deaths, standards of care and provider discretion, COVID-related funding such as ESSER/CARES Act money, and communication of treatment developments during the pandemic. Representative Pollina argued the committee should examine specific treatments and outcomes, including remdesivir, oxygen/intubation practices, and ivermectin, and raised concerns about whether some treatments were harmful or suppressed. He also focused on pediatric vaccination policy, saying the committee should review New Hampshire’s recommendations for children and medical students, and questioned the state’s reliance on federal guidance versus independent review. The chair responded that shifting federal positions may justify an independent New Hampshire evaluation and asked him to gather more information and potential witnesses. In open discussion, members suggested additional witnesses and topics, including local funeral directors, nursing homes, and emergency medical services, as well as how nursing homes were affected by positive tests and admission restrictions. Another member suggested the committee consider what products it should produce, such as a final report, possible bill recommendations, and better documentation or footnotes tying findings to testimony and scientific sources. The chair said the committee’s deliverables could include reports, letters to department heads or legislative leaders, and other actions, and noted that the committee’s 2024 report and supporting documents are available on the House committee page. No votes or formal actions beyond the organizational appointments were taken.