Transcript Highlights:

• You have a very, very high demand on what are ultimately Quite limited dollars relative to that demand
• our long-term debt in our severance tax bonding program and redirected some of the savings to a new
• The bill also establishes some limits on new appropriations.
• General Obligation Bond Package.
• Just for a severance tax bond and general fund.

Bills: HB1

Committee: Senate Senate Finance

Keywords: feed bill, legislative appropriations, legislative branch, New Mexico Legislature, general fund, legislative council service, legislative finance committee, legislative education study committee, house chief clerk, senate chief clerk, per diem, mileage, session expenses, interim committees, district staff, capitol complex, capital outlay data system, legislative processing system, redistricting, census redistricting

Transcript Highlights:

• It continued because of the bond.
• Well, the payment, the bonds last year, the assessment was stopped last year early, and the bonds are
• There are time limits involved, and so...”
• I don't care if we have to sell Garvey bonds or have bake sales.
• I don't care if we have to sell garvey bonds or have bake sales.

Committee: House Appropriations

Summary: The committee heard a budget presentation for the Department of State. House Fiscal Division said the FY27 recommended budget is $128.6 million and 367 positions, with elections making up the largest share. Secretary of State Nancy Landry said the office is implementing Louisiana’s first closed party primary, continuing voter education efforts, and moving toward procurement of a new voting system that would produce a voter-verifiable paper ballot and support risk-limiting audits. Members asked about polling place confusion, machine replacement costs, election commissioner pay, and the cost of educating voters about the new primary system. Landry said polling places are not changing because of the new primary law, the new system is expected to cost about $100 million total, and a bill this session would raise election commissioner pay by $100 per day. Fiscal staff also estimated the closed primary law will add about $31.5 million in costs over five years, mostly from converting local elections to statewide elections and voter outreach. The committee then reviewed the Department of Veterans Affairs budget, which was presented at about $105.2 million with a mix of federal, state, self-generated, and interagency funds. The department said most costs are tied to personnel and veterans’ homes, and that the homes are funded largely by federal dollars plus self-generated revenue. Members focused heavily on delays in processing National Guard disability claims and payments to veterans. Representatives said constituents had waited about a year for claims to be resolved, while the department said it had increased staffing and was processing a backlog of more than 400 claims, but still had about $950,000 in approved claims awaiting funding. The department said the payout program is governed by statute and that additional supplemental funding has been requested. Members also discussed veterans’ home care, including how service-connected disability status affects eligibility and costs, and whether chronic wound care and related complications could increase long-term costs. The department said veterans with higher service-connected ratings receive care with federal support, while others pay fees. Several members urged the department to provide clearer timelines and better communication to claimants, and one member suggested a separate oversight hearing to address the disability claim process and any needed statutory changes. The committee adjourned after the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

• to draw down and service that debt. ...collected to service if they have to issue bonds to draw down
• or a general obligation bond, I don't know that there is a direct correlation.
• or a general obligation bond, I don't know that there is a direct correlation.
• It authorizes bonds, service reserve funding, bond issuance insurance, liquidity, and instruments and
• It's not limited government. It's not simple infrastructure reform.

Bills: SB1290 , SB1530 , SB1847 , HR1050 , SB169 , SB1377 , SB1990 , SB1991 , SB1778 , SB1579 , SB1992 , SB3 , SB2028 , SB1928 , SB2127 , SB2117 , SB1439 , SB1930 , SB330 , SB1191 , SB2110 , SB2134 , SB2069 , SB2095 , SB1613 , SB1246 , SB1976 , SB1346 , SB1509 , SB2071 , SB259 , SB1314

Keywords: 2-1-1 services, revolving fund, Department of Human Services, crisis pregnancy, abortion, legal funding, research funding, development rebate, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, tax incentives, higher education partnerships, Medicaid, ADvantage Waiver, home-based services, eligibility criteria, healthcare, senior services, Taiwan, Oklahoma, sister-state relationship

Transcript Highlights:

• The only offense for which a bond could be denied by the court was capital murder.
• Subjected to a no bond.
• This amendment would allow for that to be an Aniah's Law bond hearing where the judge...
• Aniah's Law bond hearing where the judge, given the fact pattern, would not have to grant a bond.
• Would it change the availability of bond if we're both charged? No. Okay.

Bills: SB76 , SB35 , SB116 , SB119 , SB118 , SB129 , SB32 , SB31 , SB115 , SB75 , HB27 , HB40

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: jury duty, nursing mothers, exemption, legal rights, parental responsibilities, sexual extortion, criminal law, felony, threat, blackmail, SB116, machine gun conversion devices, switches, pistol conversion device, auto sear, firearm accessories, machine gun, automatic weapon, semiautomatic pistol, gun control

Transcript Highlights:

• the governor would automatically end unless there was a supermajority vote, the same amount as a bonding
• I mean, look how hard it is for us to pass a bonding bill with a supermajority vote.
• I mean, look how hard it is for us to pass a bonding bill with a supermajority vote.
• I mean, look how hard it is for us to pass a bonding bill with a supermajority vote.
• </c><01:07:14.079><c> but</c> power is shared power is limited but power is shared power is limited but

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> also help us maintain our AAA bond also help us maintain our AAA bond ratings<00:32:38.080><c> and
• Um, we have the AAA bond rating.
• </c><00:54:41.040><c> limited</c> I think you will see limited limited I think you will see limited limited
• Uh, because we do have limited resources, made even more limited by the actions of the federal government
• </c> big of a bonding bill as we can get. big of a bonding bill as we can get.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And then you got the grants and bond payments.
• And then a senior bond accountant that's in this, too, that adds into the FTEs.
• specialist because they have one bond specialist.
• That's why the Senate actually put the bond specialist in, but we decided that that made sense.
• And so that makes up the $117 million for bond payments.

Committee: House Appropriations

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The committee heard House Bill 2014, the budget for the Industrial Commission, with Representative Kempenich walking through the agency’s major components: the administrative office, Bank of North Dakota, housing finance, Department of Mineral Resources, and the State Mill and Elevator. He described mostly special-fund operations, including bond payments, economic development programs, the rail loan program, the Rebuilder’s Loan Program, housing incentive funding, abandoned well reclamation work, lignite research, litigation reserves, and a capacity purchase arrangement for a future natural gas pipeline. He also explained several one-time funding items, such as grid resiliency grants, housing-related transfers from the Strategic Investment Fund, and enhanced oil recovery funding repurposed from a prior salt cavern study. Members asked about the reduction in housing incentive funding from the Senate version, the use of one-time Strategic Investment Fund dollars for ongoing housing programs, and whether a trigger should be added to increase housing funding later. Kempenich said no trigger was discussed and emphasized that housing needs vary widely across the state. Another exchange focused on the enhanced oil recovery grant program, which he said would be driven largely by the Energy and Environmental Research Center and would use repurposed funds. A longer discussion covered the natural gas pipeline capacity purchase, including its purpose, possible routes, and the idea that the state would be buying capacity rather than immediately building a pipeline. The committee adopted Amendment 25.0181.0207 on a 21-1 vote, with one member absent and not voting. The committee then passed HB 2014 as amended on a 21-1 vote, with one member absent and not voting. Representative Kempenich was designated to carry the bill. The chair then noted this was the final budget hearing for the committee, with one bill remaining to be heard later.

Transcript Highlights:

• The last time, or when this statute was modified to put a limit on there, was in 2013.
• And I'm not saying an extreme amount of cash, yes, a limitation.
• They pay a bond, which a lot of times people can't afford, and bonds only... some judges would rather
• Oh, they pay a bond, which they sometimes... Talk into the microphone, please.
• I mean, bond is usually able to be... ...released. I mean, bond is usually even higher.

Committee: House Corrections and Public Institutions

Summary: The committee first met in executive session and adopted a House Committee substitute combining House Bills 2592, 2834, and 2787 into one measure. The combined substitute was then voted do pass by a unanimous roll call, recorded as 15 ayes and 0 noes after a brief correction to the tally. The committee then heard House Bill 1786, which would raise the Highway Patrol’s spending threshold for purchasing vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, and related specialized equipment without returning to the legislature from $100,000 to $500,000. The sponsor and Highway Patrol witnesses said the current cap is outdated because boats, armored vehicles, bomb trucks, and aircraft equipment now cost far more than $100,000, while members asked about inflation, the revolving fund, and whether a lower increase might be more appropriate. No opposition testimony was offered. Next, House Bill 2885 was heard. It would redirect the first $1 million in annual boat registration fee revenue away from general revenue and into the Missouri Water Patrol Division. The sponsor and Highway Patrol said registration revenue has declined while operating costs have risen, and the division needs the money to support enforcement, search and rescue, dive operations, and boating safety programs. Members asked how much revenue is collected and whether the change would affect other programs; testimony indicated the bill would mainly earmark existing revenue rather than increase overall department funding. The committee also heard House Bill 2694, which would exempt four fee-supported funds from the end-of-biennium sweep to general revenue: the Highway Patrol Academy Fund, the State Forensic Laboratory Account, the Boiler and Pressure Vessels Safety Fund, and the Elevator Safety Fund. The sponsor and Department of Public Safety witnesses said the sweeps make long-term planning difficult and can disrupt training, lab support, and safety inspection operations, though members raised concerns about excess balances, guardrails, and whether fee reductions should be considered if reserves grow too large. Finally, House Bill 1712 was heard; it would make intentionally failing to charge an electronic monitoring device a crime, closing a loophole in existing tampering law. The sponsor, a sheriff, and other witnesses said the bill addresses deliberate attempts to evade monitoring, while members discussed battery warnings, rural access to electricity, and the costs and benefits of pretrial release. No votes were taken on the later bills before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the GO bonding bill. Representative Niska moves that House File 719 be taken from the table.
• Representative Franson: Members, uh, this bill, my very small technical bill, the bonding bill, is a
• </c><00:02:23.880><c> It's</c><00:02:24.080><c> a</c> to vote yes on the bonding bill.
• It's a to vote yes on the bonding bill. It's a great<00:02:24.400><c> bill.
• The limit is not retroactive, and the terms begin counting with candidates elected in 2026.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• It is a bond bill capacity totaling approximately $392.5 million for three bond issues.
• So with this, the bonds... So with this, the bonds, that's different than capital outlay.
• How often do we do general obligation bonds? Chair, how often do we do general obligation bonds?
• The bonds are paid off.
• float more bonds?

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 248, the general obligation bond bill, which would authorize about $392.5 million in bond capacity for senior centers, libraries, and higher education, special schools, and tribal school projects. The sponsor highlighted major projects including a new UNM School of Medicine, a multidisciplinary building at NMSU, renovations at New Mexico Tech, a technical innovation center at CNM, an agricultural science and arts building at ENMU, and library renovations at New Mexico Highlands. Public testimony was supportive, especially from the New Mexico Library Association, and members discussed how the bond process works, including application timing, readiness to spend funds, voter approval, and how unspent bond proceeds revert. The committee voted do pass on HB 248 without opposition. The committee then considered House Bill 309, which would clarify property tax valuation rules for electric energy storage facilities by extending the existing special valuation method for electric generation, transmission, and distribution to battery storage and similar technologies. Supporters from PNM, InterWest Energy Alliance, and Inventergy said the bill would provide consistency and clarity as storage becomes more important to grid reliability and clean energy development. Members raised questions about depreciation, the 12-year schedule, the 20% floor on valuation, possible effects on local government revenues, whether the bill would apply to utilities and co-ops, industrial revenue bonds, and whether it covered microgrids or only battery systems. The committee approved HB 309 on an 8-3 vote. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 48, which would authorize $92 million in bonds for the State Fairgrounds District to support redevelopment of the southwest corner of the fairgrounds, including land acquisition, green space, water and sewer infrastructure, and traffic calming and pedestrian safety improvements near San Pedro and Central. Support came from neighborhood groups, housing advocates, the city of Albuquerque, the chamber of commerce, and others who described the project as a long-term investment in safety, infrastructure, and economic revitalization for the surrounding area. Members questioned the bond repayment structure, the 25-year term, the use of district gross receipts and gaming tax revenues, parking impacts, and future bonding needs. The committee voted do pass on SB 48 by a 10-2 margin.

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:28:02.200><c> a</c> I would assume this does not limit a I would assume this does not limit a
• A surety bond? >> Uh, Mr.
• A<00:30:32.800><c> surety</c><00:30:33.160><c> bond?</c> A surety bond? A surety bond?
• </c><00:30:52.320><c> in</c> a provider could post a surety bond in a provider could post a surety bond
• </c> uh and there's also the surety bond uh and there's also the surety bond process<00:50:56.640><c>

Committee: Senate Judiciary and Public Safety

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> bank could set limits on on their ATM. bank could set limits on on their ATM.
• </c> Is there any limit on that? Is there any limit on that?
• This limit, also known as the contingent credit limit, is the limit on the BFA state of New Hampshire
• limit, is the limit on contingent credit limit, is the limit on the<04:28:02.560><c> BFA</c><04:28:03.439
• </c> structured in the form of a bond, right? structured in the form of a bond, right?

Committee: House Commerce and Consumer Affairs

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee focused primarily on a bill concerning long-term care insurance rate increases and consumer notice. Members and staff discussed replacing or supplementing a proposed public hearing requirement with annual reporting, website updates, and consumer-facing disclosures about approved rate increases, carriers writing the products, and how the products work. Several participants emphasized that long-term care policies are long-term products, that rate increases can be spread over many years for actuarial reasons, and that consumers need better information about trends and the impact of increases. A major point of disagreement was whether the bill should try to cap premium increases. One member argued the real problem is unexpected increases of 15% to 20% and urged a statutory cap to protect consumers. Insurance department representatives and others responded that hard caps had been struck down in prior case law, that the department’s core responsibility is solvency, and that carriers need sufficient premium to pay future claims. They also said the market is struggling because many carriers stopped selling the product, leaving in-force policies to bear the cost, and that overly restrictive caps could cause insurers to withdraw from the state. The discussion then shifted toward a compromise requiring carriers to notify policyholders before a rate increase is approved and allowing a 60-day comment period. Participants debated whether the notice should come from the carrier, how confidentiality rules would apply before approval, and what the department should do with public comments. The department said it already reviews filings carefully and that submitted rates are often adjusted before approval; lawmakers noted that prior commissioners had pushed back on increases in some cases, including a seven-year moratorium. No final vote was taken in the excerpt, and the chair repeatedly tried to move the subcommittee along to other bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm just concerned about the escalation in salaries because it also says it is limited to one increase
• to one to one says uh it is limited to one to one increase<00:07:17.520><c> annually.
• So this is actually limiting the increase. Yes.
• >> Yeah, I mean in the aggregate they have significant impacts.
• have &gt;&gt; Yeah, I mean in the aggregate they have significant<01:26:47.600><c> impacts.

Committee: Joint Health Services

Keywords: 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The amendment to it is a bonding issue.
• is where all the other bonding statutes are.
• Is there a limit on the fees that a towing company can...
• Well, in Birmingham, I mean, there's no limit on what...
• I mean, there's no limit on what you can charge for that.

Bills: HB105 , HB296 , HB15 , HB264 , HB34 , HB304 , HB146 , HB26 , HB15 , HB34 , HB26

Committee: House Public Safety and Homeland Security

Keywords: law enforcement, retirement benefits, Alabama Peace Officers, agency-issued badge, agency-issued pistol, resisting arrest, custody, public safety, Alabama law, traffic infractions, traffic ticket, disposition, criminal contempt, vessel registration, boating fees, state funds, regulatory changes, water safety, compliance, false information

Transcript Highlights:

• We did that by utilizing existing bond authority.
• But unfortunately, when you use bonding, and bonding is a part of that, maintenance and preservation
• And when you're doing bonding, that goes much further than that.
• Because once that limit is there, it's a reasonable limit.
• It applies the limit to the period of July 1, 2026 until June 30, 2032, and states that the limitation

Bills: HB2720 , HB2073 , SB5816 , SB5919 , SB5831 , SB6244 , SB6044 , SB5109 , SB5877 , SB6258

Keywords: behavioral health, emergency services, health insurance, provider access, mental health funding, premium assistance, funding, healthcare, subsidies, juice grapes, agriculture, commerce, state regulation, market access, fire safety, insurance incentives, best practices, community protection, voluntary measures, mortgage modification

Summary: The House first took up Substitute Senate Bill 6225, a transportation bond measure. Supporters said it was needed to fund preservation and maintenance of Washington’s transportation system, including road upkeep and emergency repairs, while opponents argued the state had already addressed current needs through a recent unanimous budget and existing bond authority. The bill passed final passage 59-38, meeting the required three-fifths vote. The House then considered Gross Substitute Senate Bill 6260, an education budget-related bill with many floor amendments focused on transition to kindergarten, alternative learning experience (ALE) funding, local effort assistance (LEA), educational service district reserves, superintendent pay, MSOC funding, and collective bargaining limits. Most proposed amendments were rejected, though Amendment 2654 on TK priorities was adopted. After the committee amendment as amended was adopted, the bill advanced to third reading and then passed 50-47. Supporters described it as a necessary budget reduction and risk-management measure; opponents argued it cut K-12 funding too deeply, especially in rural and property-poor districts, and would worsen inequities and invite litigation. The House also concurred in Senate amendments and passed several other bills. House Bill 1796, about school construction financing and capital levy use, passed 95-2. Second Substitute House Bill 2105, dealing with immigrant worker protections, passed 58-38. Engrossed House Bill 2211, on food sourcing for a health-related program, passed unanimously. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2225, regulating companion chatbots and child safety, passed 74-21. Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2247, related to animal care, passed unanimously. Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2418, streamlining permitting timelines to support housing affordability, also passed unanimously. The House then moved on to additional Senate-concurred bills, beginning with Second Substitute House Bill 1906.

Transcript Highlights:

• This would allow for emergency appropriations with a supermajority vote, similar to bonding, coupled
• This would allow for emergency appropriations with a supermajority vote, similar to bonding, coupled
• This would allow for emergency appropriations with a supermajority vote, similar to bonding, coupled
• This would allow for emergency appropriations with a supermajority vote, similar to bonding, coupled
• This would allow for emergency appropriations with a supermajority vote, similar to bonding, coupled

Keywords: 1183, house

Summary: The committee took up House File 4, first adopting the H004A1 amendment without objection. The author described the bill as a constitutional amendment intended to create a tax relief account funded from projected budget surpluses, defined as revenues exceeding 105% of projected expenditures based on the November forecast. Supporters framed the proposal as a way to return excess taxpayer money to families, homeowners, and seniors rather than allowing the state to retain or redirect it. Testimony in support came from Ranna Lee of Americans for Prosperity, who praised the bill’s clarity and argued that taxpayers are overburdened and should receive surplus funds back; she also suggested broader tax and budget reforms, including rate reductions and tighter spending limits. Nan Madden of the Minnesota Budget Project testified in opposition, saying the legislature already has authority to use surpluses for rebates or tax cuts and warning that constitutionalizing tax policy would reduce flexibility, weaken accountability, and make it harder to respond to changing conditions, emergencies, or recessions. Members then briefly commented, with Republicans expressing support for returning money to taxpayers and citing cost-of-living pressures and fixed incomes. The committee did not hear a formal department position. At the end of the hearing, Representative Johnson renewed the motion that House File 4, as amended, be recommended to pass and sent to the Ways and Means Committee; the motion prevailed on a voice vote.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 378 modernizes the Oklahoma multi-county bond bail has been statute by controlling flexibility
• The bill modernizes the Oklahoma multi-county bond bail bonds statute by controlling flexibility of their
• This is not 12 times the amount that somebody arrested has to put up to bond out.
• And what it would, I don't know... ...that somebody arrested has to put up to bond out.
• And there is a bond necessary for the... that is commensurate with the level of the crime.

Summary: The committee took up a long list of Senate bills covering business regulation, professional licensing, transportation, tourism, consumer credit, and other policy areas. Among the measures discussed were SB 378 on bail bondsmen regulation and capital requirements, SB 1061 on brokered loans and renewal assessments, SB 1534 on charity enforcement, SB 1684 on liability insurance for highway remediation contractors, SB 1826 eliminating a sunset on the Oklahoma Enterprise Zone Incentive Leverage Act, SB 1217 on real estate touring contracts, SB 1948 on fireworks sales, SB 540 joining a dental compact, SB 1035 on utility contractors working near private property, SB 1475 renaming a bridge as the Toby Keith Interchange, SB 1327 giving the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Board more authority, SB 2159 designating wheat as the official crop, SB 2049 requiring Transportation Commission review before ODOT bond claims, SB 1447 on prescription drug plan procurement, SB 1443 on anesthesiologist compensation, SB 1641 requiring LLC articles to include an email address, SB 1873 on continuing education dates and hours, SB 265 creating pollinator state designations, SB 1521 on safeguards for conversational AI systems, SB 1326 on self-storage operations, SB 2155 on Route 66 Commission MOUs, SB 1531 on UAS/AAM governance and FAA Part 108 readiness, SB 1824 on corporate code modernization, SB 1653 joining the Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact, SB 1920 raising the auto salvage threshold, and SB 1277 on OESC job-search practices. Several bills were amended before passage, including SB 1948, SB 1521, SB 1326, and SB 1531. Testimony and questions focused on practical effects and committee jurisdiction. On SB 378, members pressed for a plain-language explanation of why bail bondsmen’s capital requirements should increase; the author clarified that the bill affects bondsmen’s regulatory capacity, not the amount criminal defendants must post. On SB 1327, members asked why the tourism board had been advisory and whether the change would add expertise and gubernatorial appointment authority. SB 1824 drew concern about impacts on minority stockholders, with the author saying fiduciary protections remain and that the bill is intended to reduce frivolous lawsuits while preserving flexibility. SB 1521 was described as a light-touch child protection bill for conversational AI, adding suicide-prevention protections, parental controls, and transparency requirements. A young FFA ambassador, Lucille Morehouse, presented SB 265 in support of pollinator designations, describing her pollinator project and the importance of pollinators to agriculture and ecosystems. Most measures advanced with little or no opposition, though several recorded dissenting votes. SB 378, SB 1061, SB 1534, SB 1684, SB 1217, SB 1948, SB 1035, SB 1475, SB 1327, SB 2049, SB 1447, SB 1443, SB 1641, SB 1873, SB 265, SB 1521, SB 1326, SB 2155, SB 1531, SB 1824, SB 1653, SB 1920, and SB 1277 were all declared out of committee, with vote totals generally ranging from 11-0 to 15-0 and some split votes such as 12-2, 13-1, 14-1, or 11-2. One bill, SB 1966, was laid over at the sponsor’s request. The chair closed by noting additional bills were still being negotiated, including one involving the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.

Transcript Highlights:

• The total cost to this amendment is $303,000 in state bonds for the Rent and Resource project.
• The Department of Commerce estimates a cost of $286,000 in bonds in fiscal year 27 and $249,000 in bonds
• The Department of Commerce estimates a cost of 286,000 in bonds in fiscal year 27, and 249,000 in bonds
• Applications for HALEU are today limited to research reactors and medical isotopes.
• It's at capacity, and that's severely limiting our economic growth.

Bills: HB1069 , HB2091 , SB6355 , HB2104 , SB6003 , HB2441 , HB2124 , HB2610 , HB2338

Committee: Senate Ways & Means

Keywords: collective bargaining, retirement benefits, employee rights, public sector, supplemental benefits, public employers, employee information, bargaining representatives, labor relations, union representation, electric transmission, energy policies, infrastructure, regulatory framework, transmission systems, aviation, wildland fires, funding, disaster relief, emergency response

Transcript Highlights:

• The commissioner may require a surety bond.
• The bill also requires a surety bond, but a surety bond does not prevent fraud.
• <c> prevent</c> bond, but a shity bond does not prevent bond, but a shity bond does not prevent fraud
• My name is Sandra Bond. I got married, so it used to be Donahue.
• </c><00:23:06.400><c> The</c> with is the shity bond language. The with is the shity bond language.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• the Senate for its final passage: an act authorizing the town of Wells to increase the residency limits
• An act providing for the terms of certain bonds to be issued by the Commonwealth.
• House number 4-413. bonds to be issued by the Commonwealth, House No. 441. Is there an objection?
• An act providing for the terms of certain bonds to be issued by the Commonwealth, House number 4-413.
• Third reading of the bill: An act relative to the issuance of revenue bonds for the construction and

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and adopted an order declaring the First Middlesex District seat vacant following the death of Edward J. Kennedy, with a precept issued for a special election on March 3, 2026. The chamber also adopted a resolution congratulating the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection on its 50th anniversary and observed a moment of silence in memory of Mary O'Connor Blancher, with remarks honoring her service as an educator and longtime Sturbridge public servant. The Senate then advanced several local and special legislation items, generally by unanimous consent and voice vote. These included bills on residency limits for Wells police and fire personnel, a Boston police age waiver for Antonio Perez, additional liquor licenses for Palmer, cemetery-related and treasurer-payment matters in Norton, increasing the Lanesborough select board, bond-related legislation, and a Quincy telecommunications revenue bonds bill that was amended with a new draft before being engrossed. The chamber also considered Massachusetts Water Resources Authority service bills for parcels in Sharon, adopting emergency preambles and passing them to engrossment, and a bill removing Hull from regional commissions on the status of women. The Rules Committee reported several matters for immediate consideration, including suspensions of rules and Joint Rule 12 for certain Senate petitions. The Senate also adopted a special order governing future consideration of House No. 4615, the fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill, setting deadlines and procedures for amendments and requiring immediate third reading and engrossment after amendment. The session closed with remarks recognizing Diwali and wishing the clerk a happy birthday, followed by adjournment to meet again on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in formal session.