Transcript Highlights:

• Anecdotally, I would share that when I purchased group insurance in the small group market about five
• I just want to emphasize what's happening with our small businesses across the Commonwealth.
• Fully 51% of these consumer-serving small businesses that are still struggling, that are still open,
• A lot of dark storefronts, a lot of small businesses closing their doors.
• We've lost 66% of our small group lives. That has created a death spiral in our merged marketplace.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The committee hearing covered a wide range of public health bills, with much of the testimony focused on two major themes: expanding access to care and stabilizing health-related workforces and services. On House 2364, an act relative to medical health and fitness facilities, representatives from Dedham Health and Athletic Club argued for a pilot program recognizing supervised exercise as medicine, saying it could improve outcomes for chronic disease, fall prevention, and mental health while reducing costs. On House/Senate bills concerning community health workers (H. 359/S. 251), multiple witnesses from MACHW, Health Care for All, MHA, Cambridge Health Alliance, Mass General Brigham, Boston Children’s Hospital, Asian Women for Health, and the City of Somerville described CHWs as essential for navigation, trust-building, language access, and addressing social needs, and urged reimbursement by MassHealth, the GIC, and private insurers, along with workforce development measures. One pediatric neurologist also told the committee that losing grant-funded CHW support led to more avoidable ER visits and threatened clinic operations. The committee also heard extensive testimony on hospital closures and essential services. Witnesses including Dr. Alan Sager, MNA President Katie Murphy, nurses from Brockton Hospital and Providence Behavioral Health, and local officials and legislators from Norwood described the loss of hospitals and service lines, especially maternity, pediatric, and behavioral health care, and argued current closure processes are too weak to protect communities. They supported bills such as H. 2460/S. 1503 and H. 2534/S. 1574, which would require earlier notice, community input, stronger state oversight, possible receivership, and limits on reopening or expanding after closures. Testimony emphasized the impact of Steward’s bankruptcy, the closures of Carney and Neshoba Valley, and the need to preserve access to essential services in underserved areas. Several end-of-life and professional regulation bills were also discussed. On H. 2436, Representative Omar Gomez and funeral industry witnesses supported eliminating Office of the Chief Medical Examiner fees for the removal of a child’s body in cases involving children five and under, describing the bill as a small but important relief for grieving families. On H. 2444 and related Senate bills, cemetery and consumer advocates supported legalizing alkaline hydrolysis and natural organic reduction as environmentally friendly after-death options, while cemetery representatives opposed H. 2360, which would allow funeral establishments to operate crematories, arguing cemeteries should retain that role. The committee also heard support for H. 2382, which would exempt dentists and oral surgeons from a new office-based surgical center framework, and for H. 2461, which would create hospital efficiency standards; employers and retailers backed that bill as a way to address rising health care costs. Finally, the committee heard testimony on autism services and hospital governance. On S. 1414, behavior analysts and school representatives said Massachusetts already licenses assistant-level ABA providers but MassHealth does not reimburse them, causing long waitlists and limiting school and family access; an actuary testified that a three-tier ABA reimbursement model could reduce MassHealth costs by up to 6% per child served. Senator Lovely also testified in support of S. 1572, which would require at least one registered nurse on each acute care hospital governing board, arguing nurses’ frontline perspective would improve quality and retention. No votes were taken in the hearing excerpt, but many witnesses urged favorable reports on their respective bills.

Transcript Highlights:

• We are a small wireless provider serving northwest New Mexico, including the Navajo Nation.
• Chair, Senator Lanier, to make it simple, this bill is amending a small section of the Audit Act.
• On line 80, increase the PET operational budget by a small degree.
• On line 80, increase the pet operational budget by a small degree.
• And then the small spreadsheet that's titled specials, sublimitals, and deficiency appropriation.

Bills: SB152, SB145, SB190, HB247

Keywords: telecommunications, low-income assistance, lifeline, broadband, rural broadband, universal service fund, public regulation commission, PRC, 911 surcharge, telecommunications relay service, VoIP, mobile service, internet affordability, digital equity, digital inclusion, rural internet, broadband infrastructure, eligible telecommunications carrier, ETC, tribal consent

Transcript Highlights:

• difference between the people who were over the median and the people who were below the median as small
• the<00:34:44.240> median the below the median the below the median as<00:34:46.879> small
• as small as possible. as small as possible. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> Yes.
• I would like to go into executive session to continue this since it's such a small... >> Um, we don't
• all the way from the western side of the state to the eastern side of the state and only had this small

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I come from a small community on the Navajo Nation, Chinle, and I went to school there.
• So I come from a small community on the Navajo Nation, Chinle, and I went to school there.
• Finally, Eddie Ramirez, who works at a small business in Tucson, he's an artist, he's a creator, he's
• I have Vanessa Casares Montes, a small business owner in my constituent.
• Vanessa Casares Montes, a small business owner and my constituent. She's...

Keywords: 1182, all

Summary: The House convened for an opening-day floor session marked by ceremonial activities, including the invocation, posting of the colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, and musical performances. Members also welcomed the Doctor of the Day, Dr. Jason Jamison, and a large number of special guests, dignitaries, family members, and community leaders. The Speaker delivered extended remarks about Arizona’s history, the responsibilities of legislators, and the importance of civility and respect in the chamber. Guest speakers included ASU football coach Kenny Dillingham and University of Arizona basketball coach Tommy Lloyd, both of whom spoke about leadership, culture, teamwork, and the role of athletics in uniting and retaining talent in Arizona. The House then took up organizational business. Members adopted amendments to the House rules for the 57th Legislature, Second Regular Session, and then adopted the amended rules as the governing rules for the session. The chamber also approved an emergency declaration for bill readings, allowing bills, resolutions, and memorials to be read by number and short title only. The Speaker announced two new standing committees for the session: Artificial Intelligence and Innovation, chaired by Representative Justin Wilmeth, and Rural Economic Development, chaired by Representative Teresa Martinez. A House Organizational Committee was appointed to notify the Senate that the House was organized and ready for business and to join a committee to notify the Governor. A lengthy portion of the meeting was devoted to points of personal privilege, during which many members introduced family members, constituents, local officials, educators, business leaders, veterans, and advocacy groups. Several members highlighted issues such as water security, affordability, education, health care access, reentry services, veterans’ citizenship, and support for working families. The session concluded with the House recessing and then reconvening for the formal start of legislative business, including committee membership changes and the first reading of a large slate of bills covering elections, taxes, education, health, water, transportation, public safety, and other topics.

Transcript Highlights:

• And for those of you who are not familiar with WDA, we are a nonprofit, we are small but mighty, and
• We are small but mighty, and we do a lot of work to support the public defenders in Washington State.
• Pretty small number. That was a surprise to me, frankly.
• And our, we have some small firms who do public defense as well, some civil stuff, who have contracts
• But because we're dealing with small numbers, that's obviously still way out of line.

Summary: The committee received agency updates on several behavioral health and justice programs. The Health Care Authority reported that assisted outpatient treatment (AOT) has expanded from two counties to eight, with a ninth expected in December, and described AOT as a court-ordered, least-restrictive treatment model that depends on close coordination among courts, treatment providers, and local officials. The agency also reviewed Joel’s Law, which lets family members, guardians, conservators, or tribes petition for an initial involuntary detention when they disagree with a designated crisis responder’s decision. Judges Ferreira and Larson said petition use has increased significantly statewide and in Snohomish County, but many cases do not proceed beyond the initial detention stage; they also noted family frustration, disjointed processes, and bed shortages as ongoing issues. Committee members asked about expansion criteria, the law’s effectiveness, and how the system fits together with other mental health interventions. The Attorney General’s Office presented on the hate crimes and bias incidents hotline created by SB 5427. The hotline began a pilot in King, Clark, and Spokane counties on July 1, 2025, with a statewide launch planned for 2027. Officials said the advisory committee helped shape the referral process, intake questions, outreach materials, and public branding. In the first five months, the hotline received 301 reports, with roughly 45% from King County and about 38% from outside the pilot counties; 42% requested follow-up, and only about a quarter of those wanted law enforcement referral. Testimony emphasized that the hotline is non-emergency, anonymous if desired, and focused on referrals rather than investigation. Members asked about why callers do not seek law enforcement involvement, how the hotline compares with Oregon’s launch, and what kinds of incidents are being reported. The Office of Independent Investigations reported progress on its work investigating police deadly force fatalities. Director Roger Rogoff said the agency has grown to 66 employees, including 31 investigators, and has completed six fatality investigations, with two public final reports posted. He said the office now operates in Region 1 and plans to expand statewide as staffing allows, with a future east-side expansion dependent on additional investigators. He also said the office has 29 requests to review prior cases, but those reviews are time-intensive and limited to cases with new evidence. Committee members asked about staffing needs, local cooperation, and whether the office conducts parallel investigations; Rogoff said OII performs the criminal investigation, while agencies may still do administrative reviews. The committee then heard a lengthy panel on public defense caseload standards and funding. The Washington State Bar Association, Washington Defender Association, county representatives, and city representatives all discussed the new caseload standards and the implementation timeline. Speakers said the standards reflect modern public defense realities but warned that funding, attorney recruitment and retention, office space, and data collection remain major barriers. Survey results from county offices showed wide variation in readiness, with many counties uncertain about timelines and most citing lack of funding as the biggest obstacle; attorney attrition was also described as high. County and city representatives argued that the new standards will require far more attorneys and support staff, and that local governments cannot absorb the cost without substantial state funding. They urged the Legislature to increase state support, improve workforce pipelines, and address structural issues in the public defense system.

Transcript Highlights:

• I couldn't be more proud of our cemetery staff and what they do; they're small staffs, but they're mighty
• And we've seen a small reduction in veteran suicides in the state of New Mexico.
• relying oftentimes on a small independent grocery store.
• have access to even a very small grocery store within their community.
• It is such a small, what, 30-year-old population.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're still a small ecosystem. That is changing and improving.
• We're a small state, but we have incredible strength and assets in these areas.
• So we're a small state, but we have incredible strength and assets in these areas.
• They had a ton of recent big milestones all wrapped up in a small time period.
• That kind of activity from what is still a small company is significant.

Transcript Highlights:

• And then there's a small slide deck from the Department of Administration.
• As you heard, some small examples of these are some of the saddest and most heart-wrenching cases that
• He talked about sort of the small ball—someone screws up, they accidentally get something, and then they
• He talked about small, low-level systems fraud.
• million of fraud in the last five years, and it's great you've recovered $53 million, but that's a small

Bills: HF3043, HF2891

Keywords: public safety, illegal remunerations, healthcare fraud, grants, criminal penalties, state law, grants management, state employees training, certification, monitoring grants, accountability, grant fraud

Transcript Highlights:

• For more than 50 years, our organization has helped support small Latino-owned businesses develop the
• Increase their market share more into resale to the detriment of consumers and small businesses.
• That is our single greatest tool to protect the small businesses.
• This is about the small businesses that have very limited tools to be able to combat the industrial..
• And it's about ensuring that small businesses in California Benefit from this industry as well.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We found the daycare and appreciated the security of the building, the small classroom ratios, and that
• <00:10:33.839> the<00:10:34.079> building,<00:10:34.640> the<00:10:34.880> small
• security of the building, the small security of the building, the small classroom<00:10:35.600><
• My granddaughter was abused at Small World Learning Center last July.
• My granddaughter was abused at Small My granddaughter was abused at Small World<00:14:17.920>

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• This bill simply updates the maximum entry fees allowed for small public horse events that are exempt
• I'm director of a small local horse club called Twin Lakes Riding Club, and I'm here today in support
• We are a schooling show or a small nonprofit club, and we can't continue doing these shows any longer
• Obviously, we're a small group of people just found out about this last week. And we don't have.
• By the way, most legitimate poultry operations, such as myself and other small-operation breeders, are

Summary: The Assembly Agriculture Committee met as a subcommittee at first because a quorum was not yet present, then adopted its committee rules for the 2025-2026 legislative session by a 5-0 vote. The committee heard a series of agriculture-related bills, with most measures receiving broad support and moving forward. AB 1142 by Assemblymember Hoover would raise the fee thresholds for small public horse events that are exempt from equine medication monitoring rules; supporters said the current limits are outdated and hurt small riding clubs, and the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 411 by Assemblymember Papin would allow ranchers to compost livestock carcasses on-farm; supporters cited cost, environmental, and predator-control benefits, while rendering industry representatives asked for amendments to protect existing services and limit the bill’s scope. The bill passed to Natural Resources. AB 482 by Assemblymember Solache would modernize the California Table Grape Commission law and raise assessment caps without increasing assessments themselves; it passed to Appropriations. AB 312 by Vice Chair Alanis would shorten the holding period for ag theft property from six months to three months; it also passed to Appropriations. The committee also heard AB 937 and AB 947 by Assemblymember Connolly. AB 937 would make technical changes to the Organic Transition Pilot Program to improve access to organic transition support, with testimony from a farmer who said the program helped him pursue organic certification; the bill passed to Appropriations. AB 947 would expand and refine technical assistance under the Healthy Soils/Climate Smart Agriculture programs, including training, grant writing, matching funds coordination, equipment sharing, and outcome monitoring; supporters said the changes would help small and organic producers access state climate programs, and it also passed to Appropriations. AB 1486, presented by the chair, would use Proposition 4 funding to start grants for public postsecondary agricultural research farms focused on climate resiliency; members praised the role of CSU and UC research farms, and the bill passed to Natural Resources as amended. The most extensive discussion centered on AB 928 by Assemblymember Rogers, the California Cockfighting Cruelty Act. Supporters argued the bill would help law enforcement target cockfighting and rooster trafficking, reduce avian disease risks, and protect public health and animal welfare; opponents, including poultry hobbyists, breeders, and 4-H-related participants, said it would overreach into lawful poultry keeping and harm heritage-breed and youth programs, urging instead that cockfighting penalties be increased to a felony. Committee members echoed concerns about unintended impacts on legitimate poultry owners and requested continued work on exemptions and language. The bill passed to Judiciary on a 5-2-1 vote, with one no vote and one abstention, and the chair noted that further committee review would continue as the bill advances.

Transcript Highlights:

• So you take big schools and small schools together.
• So no matter how small your school was, you received $150,000.
• A lot of folks think that it's just small schools.
• And an example A lot of folks think that it's just small schools.
• So this sounds like such a small number, but remember I'm a small district.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• most once every 3 years with a small most once every 3 years with a small penalty.
• I I personally by the small turnpike.
• Um, it's no small feat.
• Um, it's it's no small feat. I possible. Um, it's it's no small feat.
• <01:38:47.119> Um markers uh is no small feat. Um markers uh is no small feat.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And so, anything that not small.
• high quality teacher in a class a small high quality teacher in a class a small class<00:28:31.200
• Small districts could never do this.
• you saw on the slide, we have some small you saw on the slide, we have some small districts.<01:
• <01:03:20.480> district cohort where you where a small district cohort where you where a small

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The meeting focused on Kentucky school choice and innovation, with discussion of the state constitution’s “common schools” requirement and how that has been interpreted alongside newer education models. Chairman Tipton described model laboratory schools, Gatton and Craft Academies, magnet and virtual programs, and said these options show that Kentucky has long expanded opportunity through innovation. He then turned the discussion to Senate Bill 207, which he said was designed to support schools of innovation. Senator Steve West reviewed the history of Kentucky charter schools and explained that SB 207 was modeled on a South Carolina approach. He said the bill allows a local school board to contract with a third-party entity to manage an existing school, seek waivers from certain state rules, and receive SEEK funding while also allowing outside private investment. He emphasized that the district initiates the process, that the school remains public, and that the bill includes accountability through a time-limited contract that can be ended if the school is not performing. Members asked about the difference between SB 207 and the earlier charter school law, whether schools could cherry-pick students, and whether teachers would remain district employees. West and Tipton said the new model is tied to an existing school rather than a new charter, cannot cherry-pick students, and keeps teachers as district employees. Representative Brown raised concerns that charters and exceptions could leave some children out, especially lower-income students, while West responded that the proposal is intended to expand choice for families who may not otherwise have it and cited examples from other states where similar models improved low-performing schools. No vote or formal action was taken during the discussion.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because we have such a small number of folks that we serve, we're very vulnerable to small sample size
• Uh because we have such a small a like.
• Uh because we have such a small a small<00:16:08.160> number<00:16:08.480> of<00:16:08.800
• <00:16:10.639> uh small number of folks that we serve. uh small number of folks that we serve
• we're we're very vulnerable to small we're we're very vulnerable to small sample<00:16:13.360>

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Or as you like from a financial perspective, this presentation more focuses on a very small amount of
• The truth is the unrestricted revenue that we receive is very, very small in comparison.
• There's a small portion of funds that comes to us from the signs in our right of way.
• But at the end of the day, the unrestricted revenue we receive is very, very small.
• <01:56:26.199> the numbers that you see are so small the numbers that you see are so small

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Department of Safety presented an overview of highway fund and unrestricted revenue collections, focusing on the Division of Administration, the Road Toll Bureau, and the Division of Motor Vehicles. Amy Newbery explained that the main unrestricted funding sources are highway funds and general funds, with highway fund revenue of about $263 million in FY 2024 and a FY 2025 projection of $261.2 million. She said revenue growth has been modest and has not kept pace with costs, creating structural deficits that required general fund transfers of $50 million in FY 2022-23 and another $10 million in FY 2024-25 to balance the fund. Jennifer Hall described Road Toll operations, including motor fuel tax collection at the distributor level, compliance enforcement, and licensing for fuel distributors, transporters, IFTA carriers, and oil discharge/pollution control. Members asked about IFTA, dyed-fuel enforcement, the possibility of using the state forensic lab for dyed-fuel testing, and whether audit positions had been filled; the department said it recently hired a part-time fuel enforcement officer, still uses IRS testing, could explore lab testing, and had no audit vacancies. Hall also discussed factors affecting fuel-tax revenue, including gas prices, crude oil forecasts, weather, tourism, GDP, and inflation, and said FY 2024 road toll revenue was $127.5 million, above plan, with FY 2025 projected at $127.71 million. The committee then turned to DMV-related revenues. Newbery said motor vehicle registration revenue was $93.1 million in FY 2024 and is projected at $90.4 million in FY 2025, with the state share going directly to the highway fund. Members asked about the state/town fee split, the five-year registration cycle dip, the distribution of registration revenue by vehicle weight category, and the impact of electric-vehicle surcharges; the department said the five-year dip is still occurring and will fade over time, and it would follow up on the weight-category breakdown. The presentation also noted that driver-license revenues have stabilized, inspection revenues remain steady, plea-by-mail revenue was added to the highway fund in FY 2024, and general fund revenues tied to the department are relatively small and have declined as some functions moved to OPLC. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the administrator, and I'm supported by a small but mighty team of two on our day-to-day work in
• but mighty team of two by a small but mighty team of two on<00:17:56.880> our<00:17:56.960>
• <00:38:02.040> business<00:38:02.400> ownership pathway to small business ownership
• pathway to small business ownership that's<00:38:03.080> so<00:38:03.200> important<00
• We've tried it in a small town below Somerset, and the program didn't make it through COVID.

Keywords: 00:00 Call to Order 02:45 Roll Call 05:25 Cosmetologists 13:48 Barbers 01:16:06 Adjournment, 958, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm trying to understand here how it is possible for a small state agency to say that we need to pay
• Ma'am, the program you're referring to is a relatively small, it isn't part of our program.
• But if even a small, even a small like that if it were not funded and we did not get state funding for
• We have a very small residual amount of our unemployment insurance.
• I would call COVID funding, but it's very, very small amounts that we're spending down.

Keywords: 1184, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're supportive of the exemption to allow CDLP to drive the school small vans, motor coaches, and small
• Vans motor coaches um the school small Vans motor coaches um and<00:41:35.359> small<00:41:35.599
• <01:36:09.600> businesses support um businesses small businesses support um businesses small
• Most of the bets are small dollar amounts.
• <04:30:16.239> population for just for this very small population for just for this very small

Keywords: 910, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Three, simplify the grant application process for small counties.
• These costs deter small counties from even seeking funding.
• It's a small world, and it's weird how we cross paths.
• So that's kind of weird, small world.
• They were given a small cabin.

Summary: The joint Senate and House disaster preparedness and flooding hearing opened with quorum calls, prayer, testimony time limits, and remarks from legislative leaders emphasizing decorum, respect, and the goal of learning from the July 4 flood to prevent future loss of life. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows said the special session and hearings were intended to hear directly from local officials and residents, and that the state would pursue immediate and longer-term legislation and continue working beyond the current session. The committee then heard invited testimony from Kerr County, Kerrville, Kendall County, Real County, and the Upper Guadalupe River Authority, followed by member questions. Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, Sheriff Larry Leitha, and emergency management coordinator William B. Thomas described the flood as a sudden, unprecedented event that overwhelmed local systems before many officials or residents understood the danger. They said the county received multiple National Weather Service and IPAWS alerts, but the rain fell in remote upstream areas with limited gauges, and the flood rose too quickly for normal response. They detailed the emergency response, including dispatchers handling heavy call volumes, deputies and volunteer firefighters conducting rescues, and state and federal partners assisting. County officials said 108 people died, including 37 children, and two remained missing. They called for better real-time flood detection, stronger rural emergency management resources, improved broadband and cell coverage, and more funding for swift-water rescue and warning systems. Kerrville Mayor Joe Herring and City Manager Dalton Rice said the city had floodplain rules, emergency plans, and prior preparedness efforts, but the event exposed gaps in communications and regional warning capacity. They urged the Legislature to fund a flood warning system, whether sirens, automated alerts, or a hybrid, and asked for support for predictive weather modeling, broadband expansion, a hazard mitigation fund, and disaster recovery resources. The Upper Guadalupe River Authority said it had long funded gauges and pursued flood-warning and mitigation projects, including a new software-based flood prediction system and possible retention dams, and planned to dedicate reserve funds to feasibility studies and infrastructure improvements. Kendall County Judge Shane Stolarczyk said his county’s emergency action plan and early alerts helped prevent deaths there, and he recommended easier access to alerting tools, a river-wide warning system, simpler grant applications, and regional coordination. Real County Judge Bella Rubio said rural counties face major challenges because of limited cell service, broadband, staffing, and funding, especially for camps and visitors along the Frio and Nueces rivers, and argued that reliable alert systems should be treated as a necessity, not a luxury. Members asked about the timeline of the flood, low-water crossings, communications failures, sirens, bridges, and funding, and several witnesses said the key lessons were better communications, better warning systems, and more investment in rural flood mitigation and emergency response.