Transcript Highlights:

• It has strict data security Measures and responsible information sharing practices.
• My name is William Chavez Martinez, and I serve as counsel in the State Privacy and Security Coalition
• I have a little bit of background in some of the security stuff.
• The data it has in there, of which mine was stolen, the security clearances of hundreds of thousands
• Senator, you were bordering almost on another question. That's pretty good.

Bills: SB20, SB53, SB86, SB96, SB129

Keywords: prior authorization, pharmacy benefits manager, PBM, health insurer, prescription drugs, step therapy, formulary, auto-adjudication, electronic portal, appeals, medical necessity, serious mental illness, mental health, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, substance use disorder, addiction treatment, cancer, autoimmune disorder

Transcript Highlights:

• Critics of this bill will tell you we will lose cross-border sales with this increase.
• This draws cross-border shoppers and supports local retailers, convenience stores, and creates jobs.
• particularly for our border communities. particularly for our border communities.
• if I know that our low tobacco tax compared to surrounding states is what creates a lot of cross-border
• So if you believe in the security of the title the way my friend from Dover does, you can choose to go

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Phoenix, and additionally helps with clinical coverage in underserved rural areas in Arizona at the border
• I also want to welcome Sister Eileen, who works with the Kino Border Institute, and welcome all the people
• in the gallery with the interfaith day today at the Capitol, which include members from the Kino Border

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened with prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, approval of the prior journal, and recognition of the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Laura Mercer. Members also introduced guests and honored National Women’s History Month visitors, Father Andres Arango and interfaith guests, Jeremiah Pate, and a proclamation declaring March 25, 2026, as Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day. The House also noted the birth of the pro tem’s son and announced several committee substitutions and bill referrals on the Speaker’s desk. In Committee of the Whole, the House considered SB 1092, SB 1097, and SB 1135, and each received a do-pass recommendation. SB 1092 was described as ending probation or early release for people convicted of dangerous crimes against children. SB 1097 was identified as the annual claimant bill, and SB 1135 also passed without discussion. The Committee of the Whole report was adopted, and the three bills were referred to engrossing. On third reading, SB 1430, the annual tax corrections bill relating to the Department of Revenue, passed 51-0. One member raised concern that a provision might affect tax exemptions, while another explained that the bill was intended as a technical cleanup and that any policy-changing language had been removed in committee. The House then announced committee meetings for Wednesday and Thursday and adjourned until 10 a.m. Thursday, March 26, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• to get to work to support President Trump's agenda to make America first, to protect our southern border
• President Trump in the White House, we've got the opportunity of a lifetime to fix this country so our... border
• , to make groceries affordable, border, to make groceries affordable, strengthen<00:12:06.800> our

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• to border, homes to own, homes to rent, all across the state.
• You know, essentially what we're trying to do is guarantee everybody a safe, secure, affordable place
• You know, essentially what we're trying to do is guarantee everybody a safe, secure, affordable place
• You know, essentially what we're trying to do is guarantee everybody a safe, secure, affordable place
• a home this program is needed to secure a home this program is changing<01:09:30.960> that<01

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Secretary: Over that time horizon, I think the program is relatively secure.
• I'm south of Worcester, on the border of both Connecticut and Rhode Island.
• And this has been one of the ways we have maintained public safety and security.
• Food security is an issue that many of you have worked with us on this past year.
• . and the supports that they need to age with independence, dignity, and security.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a Health and Human Services budget hearing in Clinton, with opening remarks from Chairs Meg Kilcoyne and Robin Kennedy, local officials, and many House and Senate members introducing themselves. The hearing focused on Governor Healey’s FY27 EOHHS and MassHealth budgets, with repeated themes of rising health care costs, federal funding uncertainty, workforce shortages, and access to care in underserved regions. Members also raised concerns about primary care shortages, rural and regional disparities, behavioral health access, maternal health, food insecurity, and the impact of federal policy changes on Massachusetts programs. EOHHS Secretary Kiame Mahaniah said the FY27 EOHHS budget totals $33.7 billion, reflecting mostly non-discretionary growth from health care costs, labor costs, caseload increases, and provider rate pressures. He highlighted targeted investments in foster care, family resource centers, maternal health, youth services, nutrition programs, immigrant legal services, and human service workforce rates, while warning that federal actions could strip roughly $3.5 billion annually from the state’s health care funding. In response to questions, he defended the administration’s cooperation with federal audits and program integrity efforts, discussed the primary care crisis, and said the state is trying to preserve core services while preparing for a more difficult FY28 budget cycle. MassHealth Undersecretary Mike Levine then described two major FY27 challenges: double-digit cost growth and the expected effects of the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act. He said MassHealth’s proposed $22.7 billion gross budget includes a 7.5% increase and relies on a moratorium on new expansions plus targeted reductions, including a $1,000 annual adult dental cap, ending GLP-1 coverage for weight loss only, reducing care management to peer-state levels, and work groups to slow growth in PCA, adult foster care, and adult day health spending. Members questioned the impact on Boston Health Care for the Homeless, preventive care, and regional access; Levine said the changes are meant to preserve sustainability, that children and certain disabled populations remain protected, and that the administration will continue working with providers, advocates, and the Legislature on implementation and longer-term reforms.

Transcript Highlights:

• It has only pushed sales across borders. We are losing significant revenue.
• Just across the border. And so with that I would appreciate a green vote.
• Just across the border. border. border.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• lot of conversation so far across this group about the need for critical minerals, the national security
• :36.640> national for critical minerals, the national for critical minerals, the national security
• This is everything security importance.
• actually then cut the carbon load of the materials we're dealing with if we keep them within our borders
• if we keep them within our borders. if we keep them within our borders.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• A lot of them are right down that eastern border over there where I live.
• He's also a good friend, and his ranch borders our ranch next door to us, and has a beautiful daughter
• He's also a good friend, a ranch, he borders our ranch next door to us, and has a beautiful daughter
• changes related to no tax on tips, no tax on overtime pay, and providing senior citizens a Social Security

Bills: HB111, HB108, HB145, HB164, HB291, HJR6, HR1, HB63, HB64, HB165, HB184, HB200, HB4, HB7, HB20, HB65, HB66, HB80, HB88, HB96, HB166, HB285, HB295, HB306, SB29, SB37, HJM2, HJM3, HJM1, HM7, HM17, HM4, HM22, HM23, HM24, HM26, HM2, HM16, HM32, HM13, HM47, HM20, HM51, HM1, HM31, HM35, HM36, HM46, HM53, HM54, HM11, HM14, HM21, HM34, HM50

Keywords: water law, state engineer, civil penalty, compliance order, water rights, overdiversion, illegal diversion, groundwater storage and recovery, well license, permit violation, water enforcement, New Mexico water code, irrigation district, conservancy district, water diversion, unauthorized water sales, measuring device, district court appeal, water resources, water compliance

Transcript Highlights:

• It was limited to border counties, but that might be something of interest to you.
• planning in regards to family members so we'll get that copy to you what's that it was limited to border
• counties but that that copy to you what's that it was limited to border counties but that might be something
• communities in Central Texas to protect the region's water resources and ensure long-term water security

Bills: SB467, SB325, SB867, SB994, SB1052, SB1237, SB1449, SB1531, SB2063, SB2172, SB2173, SB2520, SB2529, SB2538, SB2541, SJR46, SJR84

Keywords: SB 467, Texas property tax, ad valorem tax, homestead exemption, residence homestead, fire damage, house fire, destroyed home, temporary tax relief, appraisal district, chief appraiser, local taxing unit, tax rollback, tax refund, Tax Code Chapter 11, prorated exemption, homestead improvement, disaster relief, property tax exemption, residential property

Summary: The committee heard several local government and property tax bills, with most testimony focused on appraisal disputes, tax administration, and development rules. Senate Bill 1052 by Senator Hinojosa would address coastal county appraisal litigation by requiring property owners in certain large-value disputes to report an uncontested taxable value while appeals are pending, so taxing units can base truth-in-taxation calculations on more realistic revenue. Nueces County, Del Mar College, and Corpus Christi ISD testified in support, describing major budget shortfalls caused by refinery valuation disputes; the committee substitute narrowed and clarified the bill’s scope. No opposition was heard, public testimony closed, and SB 1052 was left pending. The committee also heard Senate Bill 1531, which would require local tax collectors to accept common electronic property tax payments such as credit cards, debit cards, and e-checks. Witnesses supported modernizing payment options and the committee substitute removed ACH/electronic funds transfer language to avoid bank-account disclosure concerns. Public testimony closed and the bill was left pending. Senate Bill 325, by Senator Perry, would restore platting and groundwater-certification requirements that were unintentionally weakened by prior legislation; supporters from county government, water groups, and builders’ representatives debated whether the real issue was groundwater protection or road standards for private roads. The bill was left pending after extensive testimony and no vote. The committee then took up Senate Bill 994 and SJR 46, which would exempt certain livestock feed inventory from property tax and provide the constitutional amendment needed for that change. Feed store and Farm Bureau witnesses supported the measure as relief for seasonal inventory taxes, and the bills were left pending. Senator Paxton presented SB 467 and SJR 84 to create a temporary property tax exemption for homes completely destroyed by fire, with refunds or corrected bills based on the date of loss; both were left pending. SB 1237 would clarify charitable property tax exemptions for senior housing and retirement communities, with testimony from Catholic and Baptist retirement organizations and a resident describing rising costs and exemption revocations; it was also left pending. The committee later voted 6-0 to report SB 2073, a pending bill on appraisal district authority to purchase or finance real property, and recommended it for the local and uncontested calendar. Finally, the committee heard SB 2172, SB 2173, and SB 2063, all related to property tax administration. SB 2172 would limit when appraisal districts can require homeowners to reapply for homestead exemptions, requiring a specific reason and written notice; SB 2173 would protect new homeowners from surprise tax liabilities caused by prior owners’ erroneous homestead exemptions, with testimony describing large back-assessment bills; both were left pending. SB 2063 would bar appraisal districts from using market-value evidence in unequal appraisal protests, and testimony sharply divided between taxpayer advocates, who said market data improperly overwhelms equity claims, and appraisal district representatives, who argued market value is inherently tied to equal-and-uniform taxation and cited a recent Texas Supreme Court decision; the bill was left pending after testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:39:33.359> a their child was being cared for in a their child was being cared for in a secure
• <00:39:34.320> and<00:39:34.640> and secure and and secure and and uh<00:39:36.320>
• a<00:39:36.560> secure<00:39:36.960> setting.
• uh a secure setting. uh a secure setting.
• We live at the border community with Massachusetts. They pay their folks a whole lot more.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so in this example, you can see that the qualified recipient who is on the border, or whose border
• qualified recipient who is on the border qualified recipient who is on the border of<00:50:33.319
• > or<00:50:33.640> whose<00:50:33.880> border<00:50:34.440> includes<00:50
• :35.040> both<00:50:35.280> County of or whose border includes both County of or whose
• border includes both County a<00:50:35.760> and<00:50:35.920> County<00:50:36.240> B

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• projects not only benefit wildlife, but also create natural wildfire breaks across the forest and secure
• I was raised on the Scottsdale-Phoenix border.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• whereas the regime is a known state sponsor of worldwide terrorism, enabling violence beyond Iran's borders
• and threatening peace and security internationally.

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened, approved the journal, heard the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance, and welcomed several guests and a Doctor of the Day. Members also adopted a proclamation honoring the people of Iran and heard a brief disturbance in the gallery that led to the sergeant-at-arms escorting a person out. The chamber then moved into Committee of the Whole to consider several Senate bills. In Committee of the Whole, SB 1166 received a do pass recommendation without debate. SB 1184, a bill concerning flags that homeowners and condominium associations may not prohibit, drew debate over a proposed floor amendment by Rep. Villegas to add the pride flag to the protected list; the amendment was defeated 21-32 after division, and the bill then received a do pass recommendation. SB 1252 also received a do pass recommendation. The House later adopted the Committee of the Whole report, placing SB 1166, SB 1184, and SB 1252 on third reading. An additional Committee of the Whole was then used to amend SB 1092, which was reported out as amended and deferred to engrossing. On third reading, SB 1020, a special license plate bill supporting the Arizona Space Commission and space-related education/workforce efforts, passed 35-21 with several members explaining votes in favor and against, including objections that a community college scholarship plate had not been heard. SB 1247, an emergency measure relating to health care institutions, passed 55-1 and met the two-thirds threshold. The House also concurred in Senate amendments to HB 2307, and later passed HB 2307 on final reading with the required emergency vote. The chamber also passed HB 2072 on final reading by a two-thirds margin after extensive debate over repealing Cesar Chavez Day in light of allegations of abuse and whether the day should instead be replaced with a farm worker recognition day. The House adjourned until Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• opposition would like to extend some language or, you know, propose some language to change this bill to secure
• Do you know that people could go, I live on the borders.

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Commerce Committee reconvened to continue testimony on House Bill 2085, which would preempt local regulation of the sale of tobacco, nicotine, and vapor products and establish a statewide standard. The bill sponsor and supporters repeatedly said the measure is intended to create uniform rules for retailers, protect small businesses from a patchwork of local ordinances, and preserve existing local zoning authority. Several members questioned whether the bill’s language was too broad or vague, especially as to whether it could affect zoning near schools or other sensitive locations, and the sponsor said zoning was not the intent and should remain local. Testimony in support came from representatives of the Missouri Vape and Alternative Products Association, Ware Brands, Warrant’s, the Missouri Grocers Association, Maverick Convenience Stores, and the Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association. Supporters argued that local flavor bans or other restrictions would harm small businesses, create compliance problems, and push sales into neighboring jurisdictions. They also said federal Tobacco 21 rules already govern sales to minors, and that the bill should be read as a statewide sales standard rather than a public health measure. One supporter emphasized that retailers already comply with FDA enforcement and that inconsistent local rules create operational burdens. Opposition came from the Missouri Public Health Association and the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, which said local tobacco regulations have helped prevent youth smoking and that the bill could invite litigation over existing ordinances and limit future local public health action. Committee members raised concerns about local control, public health, and the bill’s wording, while the sponsor clarified that the bill would preempt state and local standards on the sale of tobacco products where the state has already acted, but would not require every locality to adopt a 21-year-old purchase age. An informational witness from MOST Policy Initiative described health risks associated with vaping, flavored products, and youth nicotine use. The hearing concluded without a vote, and the committee adjourned after taking all testimony.

Transcript Highlights:

• While exemptions exist for law enforcement and security personnel, the bill fails to adequately protect
• inflates costs and creates compliance nightmares for contractors operating across state or even national borders

Keywords: 909, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And this allows that if somebody lives across the border but works in, well, if they live in Moorhead
• Then they will actually be the ones that contract, provide the money, secure the amount of marketplace

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee first took up House Bill 1012, the Department of Health and Human Services budget. Senator Dever walked through the amended budget, highlighting a roughly $5.85 billion all-funds total, major one-time items for IT, child care, housing, behavioral health, juvenile justice, rural EMS, and supportive housing, along with funding for Medicaid expansion, CCBHCs, opioid settlement uses, and several studies and reporting requirements. Members discussed the provider inflation increase, with Senator Mathern urging a 2%/2% rate instead of 2%/1.5%, but the committee adopted the subcommittee amendment and then passed the amended bill 15-0 with a do-pass recommendation. Senator Dever was named as carrier. The committee then considered House Bill 1540, a school choice/education savings account-style bill. Senator Shibley explained the subcommittee amendments, including clarifying the Bank of North Dakota as administrator, adding a means test at 400% of the federal poverty guideline, and adjusting the fiscal note to about $21.7 million for the second year. In debate, members raised concerns about the bank being assigned duties outside its normal role, the lack of DPI involvement, and whether the means test should be tiered rather than a hard cutoff. The committee rejected a do-not-pass motion 5-10-1, then approved a do-pass motion on the amended bill 9-6-1, with Senator Wobama noted as the likely carrier. The meeting ended with the chair announcing the committee would adjourn and reconvene the next morning.

Transcript Highlights:

• What I did ask from NDIT, our partners over there, is to go back and just validate the security of those
• What I did ask for NDIT, our partners over there, is to go back and just validate the security of those
• So we're very on the low end of that, but that's not counting what we would call security lending.
• So in a sense, you almost have a zero percent oversight and custody cost net of security lending that
• So we're very on the low end of that, but that's not counting what we would call security lending.

Keywords: 908, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, but it does create this fund so that if we are able to secure more dollars in the form of a grant
• that if we are does create this fund so that if we are able<00:06:23.360> to<00:06:23.759> secure
• c> dollars<00:06:24.720> in<00:06:24.880> the<00:06:25.039> form able to secure
• more dollars in the form able to secure more dollars in the form of<00:06:25.280> a<00:06:25.520
• And even when you look around the border, we looked at labor market data all around, and even 75 miles

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• These two working groups set up the following focus areas, with number one: food security and resiliency
• These two working groups set up the following focus areas, with number one: food security and resiliency
• These two working groups set up the following focus areas, with number one: food security and resiliency
• These two working groups set up the following focus areas, with number one: food security and resiliency
• These two working groups set up the following focus areas, with number one: food security and resiliency

Keywords: 912, senate, all