Transcript Highlights:

• I did ask Mark, if you would, stand up and let us recognize you, and thank you.
• Mark, you're irreplaceable. You're irreplaceable.
• Mark, you're irreplaceable, and gosh, it's just, we're going to miss you here.
• A big part of me really does want to make you give a speech, but I'm not going to do that to you, Mark
• For our members, for our staff, for Mark Carter, for all of his years of service. He left.

Bills: HCR1030, HB1370, SB893, SB2, SB1589

Keywords: legislative procedure, session calendar, deadline schedule, bill deadlines, joint resolution, Oklahoma Legislature, 61st Legislature, regular session, adjourn sine die, floor deadline, third reading, committee deadlines, bill drafting, appropriations, budget bills, ethics commission, agency rules, administrative procedures act, local and special laws, pension legislation

Summary: The House convened, completed roll call, and heard an invocation and pledge before moving through several ceremonial presentations. Members recognized Monty Smith for 43 years of service with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, honored the Marlow Lady Outlaws girls golf team for winning the Class 3A state and academic state championships, and acknowledged the final group of pages for the 60th Legislature. The House also adopted HCR 1030, which sets the legislative procedure schedule and deadlines for the 61st Oklahoma Legislature. The chamber then met in a joint session with the Senate to observe Veterans Awareness Day. Speakers from both chambers and the Oklahoma Veterans Council delivered remarks honoring veterans, Gold Star families, and military service, and highlighted recent policy achievements for veterans, including the full tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans, the exemption of military retirement pay from state income tax, improved funding for veterans’ homes, and restructuring of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission. The Veterans Council also presented its annual awards, naming Sen. Kerry Hicks as Outstanding Senator of the Year, Rep. Andy Menz as Outstanding Representative of the Year, Aaron Higgins as Veteran of the Year, and the Speed family as Veteran Family of the Year, and recognized Scott Howell for his service to the council. The joint session then adjourned. Back in the House, members took up Senate amendments to House Bill 1370, which concerns the Corporation Commission plugging fund and a repealer tied to a state fuel-tax offset provision. The bill’s author explained that the amendment would prevent the state from capturing savings if the federal fuel excise tax is reduced, so any reduction would benefit consumers rather than state revenue. After questions about fiscal impact and the well-plugging fund, the House adopted the Senate amendments without objection and passed HB 1370 on final passage by a vote of 89-1; the emergency clause also passed 89-1. The House then recessed, later returned for a staff appreciation and sine die-style recognition, including a tribute to long-serving bill drafter Mark Carter, and recessed again while awaiting any additional legislation from the Senate.

Transcript Highlights:

• I just didn't know if it is a marking.
• Yes sir, it is a mark, but this particular area is not a good marketing area. Thank you.
• Chair calls Mark Bell. Mark record shows you're Mark Bell.
• For the record, my name is Mark Bell.
• Thanks, Mark. The Chair calls Jason Ryan. Jason, we show you is Jason Ryan.

Bills: HB 246, HB 796, HB 1056, HB 1544, HB 1846, HB 2001, HB 2618, HB 2625, HB 2869, HB 2898, HB 3069, HB 3114, HB 3157, HB 3228, HJR 98

Keywords: federal directives, state authority, Tenth Amendment, government enforcement, local governance, gold standard, legal tender, currency, transactional currency, financial transactions, electronic payment systems, state finance, regulatory compliance, electric trucks, charging infrastructure, advisory council, transportation, sustainability, criminal penalties, official information

Transcript Highlights:

• They're in fact marking up, they're doing the chairman's mark on Medicaid as we speak in DC and this
• The chairman's mark that I saw Sunday night says you can't do any new ones.
• Well, over a 10-year window, that's how you can come to hit kind of your mark.
• The FMAP changes and the per capita cost didn't appear in the, the chairman's mark.
• That doesn't seem to be the case with what the initial mark.

Transcript Highlights:

• Rebecca Mark. I'm a seventh-grade athlete, and I support this bill. Thank you.
• Hello, my name is Meg Mark. I have three children.
• Hello, Mark Esquibald, Dad Talk Today and National Family Justice.
• Hello, Mark Esquibald, Dad Talk Today and National Family Justice.
• Hello, my name is Meg Matt and Mark, mom of three.

Summary: The committee met on April 1, 2025, first adopting its rules and then taking up AB 89, a bill to require CIF to align girls’ high school sports with federal policy and restrict participation to biological females. The author and supporters argued the bill was needed to protect fairness, safety, privacy, and competitive opportunities for girls, citing individual student-athlete stories and examples of transgender participation. Opponents, including parents, athletes, advocates, and technical witnesses, argued the bill would stigmatize transgender youth, invite invasive scrutiny and harassment, and solve a problem they said was extremely rare or unsupported by data. After lengthy public testimony and debate, the committee rejected AB 89 on a 2-7 vote and sent it to the Committee on Education as a failed motion. The committee then heard AB 844, a related measure framed by the author as restoring competitive integrity, protecting student privacy, and bringing California into compliance with Title IX and federal directives. Supporters, including Matt Walsh and a student athlete who said she lost a varsity spot to a transgender student, argued that sex-based sports rules are necessary because biological males retain athletic advantages and that California risks federal funding if it does not change course. Opponents, including educators, parents, LGBTQ advocates, and trans youth, said the bill would increase bullying, harassment, and exclusion, and that existing policies have worked without evidence of harm from transgender athletes. Public comment was again heavily divided, with many speakers on both sides. The transcript ends during public testimony on AB 844, before any final committee vote or action is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• Okay, next we're going to have Mark Trayson from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
• My name is Mark Drayson.
• Thank you, Mark. Good to see you, Senator. Thanks. Thank you for all the work you've done...
• Enjoy retirement, Mark. Thank you so much, and again congratulations. Thank you for your service.
• And something that Mark, I'm going to reference Mark, as everyone else did: you know, the most satisfying

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Housing held its second introductory hearing to frame the session’s housing agenda. Chairs Cyr and Haggerty described the hearing as a chance to hear a wide range of perspectives on Massachusetts’ housing crisis, including underbuilding, zoning and permitting barriers, rising costs, and the need for both state and local action. The committee heard from court, municipal, advocacy, and regional housing leaders, with recurring themes of increasing supply, preserving existing housing, preventing displacement, and expanding resources for renters and homeowners. Chief Justice Diana Horan of the Housing Court said the court is handling more than 40,000 new filings annually with only 15 judges, and estimated the court would need about 21 judges to meet demand. She described complications from RAFT-related stays, mental health and guardianship issues, aging housing stock, and the new eviction sealing law, which she said was being implemented smoothly but may require additional resources if filings continue to rise. The Massachusetts Municipal Association and MAPC emphasized that municipalities need flexibility, funding, and better tools such as MassWorks, Housing Works, H-DIP, 40R reforms, inclusionary zoning changes, and a local option transfer fee; they also said local control concerns and long permitting timelines remain major barriers. MAPC and others stressed that supply growth alone will not solve the crisis and urged continued support for subsidized housing, access to counsel, and modular/off-site construction. Advocates and housing providers focused on displacement, preservation, and tenant protections. Homes for All Massachusetts and Mass Law Reform Institute called for rent stabilization, stronger tenant protections, foreclosure prevention, elimination of junk fees, continued funding for RAFT and HomeBASE, and expanded access to counsel. Mass Union of Public Housing Tenants said the state needs far more extremely low-income housing, more operating subsidy, and major investment to repair public housing, while also supporting tenant technical assistance during redevelopment. Franklin County’s housing authority warned that rural communities are being left out of many state programs and asked for a rural LIHTC set-aside, a permanent rural credit boost, and a review of housing choice programs. A Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation researcher presented findings that communities that add housing generally see stronger municipal finances, and that housing growth can improve property tax and state aid outcomes. Seasonal community representatives from Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket described extreme affordability pressures and the need for tailored tools. Nantucket’s housing trust chair said the island has made progress through local funding, inclusionary zoning, and deed-restricted units, but still needs a real estate transfer fee and faster ways to preserve year-round housing. Across the hearing, members and witnesses repeatedly returned to the need for a mix of production, preservation, tenant protections, and local flexibility, rather than relying on any single policy solution.

Transcript Highlights:

• Dixon, Elhawary, Ellis, Flora, Fong, Gabriel, Gallagher, Garcia, Gipson, Jeff Gonzalez, Jeff Gonzalez, Mark
• Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez, you are recognized. Thank you, Mr.
• And so together, let us mark history and make history. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• And so together, let us mark history and make history. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• File item number 224, that's SJR 9 by Senator Durazo, presented by Assembly Member Mark Gonzalez.

Summary: The Assembly convened after a quorum call, prayer, and pledge, then moved through a busy floor session with several procedural motions and bill actions. Members suspended rules to allow speeches and guests, withdrew AB 362 from Appropriations to the second reading file, and voted 41-13 to suspend the rules for that motion. The body also took up a number of items on the daily and third reading files, with several measures passed, retained, or moved to inactive file. The main policy focus was ACR 70, designating September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Assembly Member Pellerin presented the resolution with a personal account of losing her husband to suicide and urged greater use of 988, secure firearm storage, and open conversations about mental health. Many members from both parties and caucuses spoke in support, sharing personal experiences with suicide and emphasizing stigma reduction, access to care, and the importance of checking in on others. The resolution was adopted by voice vote, Senate amendments were concurred in, and suicide awareness pins were distributed to members. The Assembly also concurred in Senate amendments to AB 977 on Native American human remains, with unanimous support and a 68-0 vote, and to AB 1510, the Assembly PERS Committee bill, which passed 66-1. Members then adopted H.R. 65, recognizing October as Filipino American History Month, after extensive remarks celebrating Filipino American history, labor organizing, public service, and community contributions; 63 co-authors were added without objection before the voice vote. Later, the chamber passed SB 81, protecting access to health care facilities from immigration enforcement, and SB 98, requiring schools and campuses to notify communities when immigration enforcement is present; both were framed as part of a broader package to protect immigrant communities and passed on urgency votes. The session concluded with debate on SJR 9, a resolution condemning mass immigration raids and defending civil liberties, which drew sharply divided remarks from supporters and opponents, with no final action shown in the transcript excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• While his time on earth was too short, his life was marked by a love for his work, community, and family
• Mark. Liz Miranda. Mark C. Montigny. Michael O. Moore. Patrick M. O'Connor. Jacob R. Oliveira.
• Mark Montigny. Yes. Paul Mark. Jacob Oliveira. Yes. Michael Rush. Yes. John C. Beal. Michael F.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up House No. 4646, an act enhancing child welfare protections, and considered a series of amendments focused on child welfare, school discipline, truancy, foster care transparency, and related services. Several amendments were withdrawn, including Senator DiDomenico’s proposal to create a Massachusetts children’s cabinet and Senator Tarr’s amendments on timeout and isolation standards, the best-interest-of-the-child standard, and mandated reporter definitions. Other amendments were adopted, including Senator Rauch’s amendments on student transfers and reasonableness, Senator Tarr’s amendment on information management integrity and youth engagement in the Office of the Child Advocate, and the Senate Ways and Means amendment. Amendments on school compliance before CRA filings, probation certification before accepting a child requiring assistance petition, and statewide truancy and engagement standards were rejected. After the amendments were resolved, the Senate ordered the bill to a third reading and then passed it to be engrossed by a roll call vote of 39 in the affirmative and none in the negative. The chamber also adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of John Edwards and Hadley Boucher, with moments of silence held for each. Later, the Senate also adjourned in memory of former U.S. Representative Barney Frank, with remarks highlighting his civil rights work, his role in financial reform, and his historic service as the first openly gay member of Congress. Before adjournment, the Senate took up a House amendment to the Senate bill establishing the Massachusetts Data Privacy Act, voted not to concur, and requested a committee of conference. The chair appointed Senators Creem, Finegold, and O’Connor to the conference committee. The Senate then adopted an order to reconvene on Monday at 11:00 a.m. and dispense with printing a calendar, and finally adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• I've got two individuals from LBB, Mark Wiles and James O'Connor.
• Mark, James, would you all join us up here? Please remain, if you would, Mr. Dubois.
• The chair calls Mark Wiles, Manager of the National Resources Team for LBB, and James O'Connor, Budget
• Mark Wiles with the Legislative Budget Board, and with me is James O'Connor.
• Or I'm sorry, Mark did... No, sir.

Bills: SB2122, SB2050, HB16

Keywords: oil and gas waste, application fees, permit amendments, environmental regulation, Texas natural resources, battery recycling, battery disposal, consumer batteries, energy storage modules, electrochemical devices, lithium-ion battery, household hazardous waste, solid waste, municipal recycling, waste management, battery stewardship, producer responsibility, TCEQ, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, recycling program

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, my name is Mark Holston.
• Members, my name is<00:02:17.040> Mark<00:02:17.280> Holston.
• <00:02:17.920> I'm<00:02:18.080> the<00:02:18.480> executive is Mark Holston
• I'm the executive is Mark Holston.
• As Mark stated, um we've had great support for this whole effort across all avenues.

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Mark Melton. Yes, Sarah Abdel-Modalab. Mr. Bookstaff, let's start with you.
• Mark, can you respond to that? Yeah. Sorry. Certainly.
• It's their property, Mark. They own the property. I understand that.
• So I would— remind me, Mark, of Property Law 101.
• Or yeah, go ahead, Mark, and then...

Bills: HB32, HB15, HB171, HB421, HB581, HB644, HB745, HB349, HB917, HB204, HB923, HB15, HB171, HB204

Keywords: eviction, landlord rights, tenant rights, justice court, property law, court procedures, chemical dependency, court-ordered treatment, mental health, health care, treatment facility, juvenile justice, criminal justice reform, deep fake, digital impersonation, age verification, private cause of action, explicit content, consumer protection, HB 581

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh our prayers go out to left his mark.
• Mark has received American Legions.
• Speaker, Mark of Representatives. Mr.
• the White House marked this anniversary? the White House marked this anniversary?
• <03:00:07.600> up<03:00:07.840> an They marked it by putting up an They marked it by

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• That kind of compassion leaves a mark that never disappears.
• Today marks the Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
• As we mark As we mark this anniversary, I remain committed to defending the unborn, to supporting mothers
• Mark Harris from the great state of North Carolina. Mr.
• Today marks the fourth anniversary of the Dobbs decision reaffirming that the U.S.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Go ahead, Mark. >> Good morning, everyone. My name is Mark Bowman.
• Uh, thank you, gentlemen, Whitney, Mark, for being here this morning.
• We're always >> Alrighty, Mark, you ready?
• Mark Medcamp, your state treasurer. Mark Medcamp, your state treasurer.
• I'm Mark Medcaf, your state work.

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:00 Attendance Roll Call 00:00:30 Personnel Cabinet 00:03:25 Department of Veterans Affairs 00:12:40 Auditor of Public Accounts 00:22:39 State Treasurer 00:42:24, 958, all

Summary: The committee first heard from Personnel Cabinet officials on House Bill 6, which required the Kentucky Employees Health Plan to offer a qualified high-deductible health plan by the 2026 plan year. Officials said the plan was already added for 2025, described it as the lowest-premium option with higher deductibles, and explained that federal rules prevent first-dollar coverage except for limited preventive services. They said 264 members had selected the plan out of about 142,000, and noted it also allows health savings accounts. Members asked about the plan’s benefits, what “catastrophic” meant, the deductible amounts, and whether employees were aware of the option; the cabinet said it would continue to highlight the plan in communications and that the deductible is above $8,000 for individuals and above $16,000 for families. The committee then received an update from the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs on the Bowling Green veterans center. Officials said the current target is to move into the building on October 28, with first admissions about two months later, pending final fixes and certification steps for Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA. They explained that about $7 million in FY25 appropriations lapsed because of construction delays, staffing ramp-up was postponed to avoid unnecessary spending, and the unspent funds should be considered in the next budget request. Members praised the project and asked about annual operating costs; officials said the current operating budget is about $15 million, though they do not expect to spend all of it this year. The commissioner also announced the fifth annual state commanders conference in Lexington, focused on veterans issues and featuring state, federal, and advocacy leaders. State Auditor Allison Ball then outlined her office’s budget priorities. She said the office is primarily a billing agency that charges audited entities for its work, and warned that some agencies are now signaling they may refuse to pay for audits related to kinship care and the medical cannabis application process. She said the office plans to continue requesting outlier credits for unusually burdensome county audit fees, funding for the ombudsman office’s transition and expanded in-office operations, and revenue replacement for local government audits and possibly state audits and special examinations. Ball also said the office conducts about 500 audits, reviews, and examinations a year and wants to restore performance audits with seed funding, as well as add investigators to the ombudsman office to focus more on child abuse and neglect cases. Members discussed the value of performance audits, the possibility of raising certain board thresholds to account for inflation, and the need for additional capacity to handle more audits.

Transcript Highlights:

• Colin, John Davis, Baird, Cruz, Colin, John Davis, Arnell Fahardo, Kent Gubalbor, Christine Mangan, Mark
• Board of Public Safety and Standard and Training: Jack Carrier, Mark Danelle, Rocky Heinis, Christopher
• Medical Examining Board: Stuart Ekman, George, or Mark Norman, and Cheryl Roth.
• So, and I don't know if it's like something that marks or an actual, like, Crayola marker, but whatever
• deep and figure out where our foundational and fundamental problems are, where are we missing the mark

Keywords: 907, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Colin, John Davis, Baird, Cruz, Colin, John Davis, Arnell Fahardo, Kent Gubalbor, Christine Mangan, Mark
• Mike Devon, Board of Trustee of Board of State University, Joshua Hutchinson, Sonia Moody, Gerardo, Mark
• Oil, Kaylee Miller, Theresa Morris, Board of Public Safety and Standard and Training, Jack Carrier, Mark
• So, and I don't know if it's like something that marks or an actual, like, Crayola marker, but whatever
• deep and figure out where our foundational and fundamental problems are, where are we missing the mark

Summary: The Senate convened with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation by Senator Starr, followed by several courtesies recognizing Pride Month, a staff birthday, and later a retirement and a community celebration. Senator Robinson then used remonstrances to warn against expanding surveillance through school bus camera systems, arguing that leaked plans from a vendor could create commercial databases of drivers’ movements and erode privacy. The main business was confirmation of numerous gubernatorial appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions. Senators debated the process at length, with several minority members objecting that the volume of nominees, limited hearing time, and lack of transparency made meaningful advice-and-consent review difficult. Supporters responded that the nominees were qualified public servants and that the Senate should work with the Governor’s office on reforms. The Senate first confirmed a large block of appointments, then confirmed two Sustainability Board appointees, and later confirmed three Quality Education Commission appointees after extended debate. The Quality Education Commission nominations drew the most substantive policy discussion. Opponents argued the commission needs more technical research expertise and broader representation, while supporters emphasized the nominees’ education experience and direct knowledge of Oregon schools. Several senators described Oregon’s education system as in crisis, citing low reading and math proficiency, chronic absenteeism, and the need for urgent reform of the Quality Education Model and school funding. The Senate also received a proposed rule amendment creating an official Senate seal, which was distributed and held on the table, and the chamber adjourned without further action.

Transcript Highlights:

• Mark. Liz Miranda. Mark C. Montigny. Michael O. Moore. Michael O. Moore. Yes. Patrick M. O'Connor.
• Mark. Yes. Liz Miranda. Yes. Yes. Mark C. Montigny? No. No. Jacob Oliveira. Yes. Yes.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a brief recognition of guests participating in the Young Announcers Program, including students and community leaders from Urban Heat 98.1 FM, 365 Dad, and Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter School. The chamber then took up House No. 58, a fiscal year 2025 supplemental appropriations bill focused largely on emergency assistance shelter funding and related policy changes. Senator Rogers explained that the agreement appropriates $425 million for the EA shelter system through the rest of FY25 and includes measures intended to reduce caseloads and improve oversight, such as tighter eligibility verification, criminal offender information checks, disclosure of prior convictions, reporting requirements, a study of NCIC background checks, and a plan to phase out hotels and motels. Senator Tarr praised the urgency of the bill but criticized the process, saying the measure was negotiated without a formal conference committee or public report and did not go far enough on reform. The Senate adopted the concurrence and further amendment, then adopted an emergency preamble by a vote of 11-0. The Senate then took final action on House No. 58, with Senator Tarr requesting a roll call vote. After the call of the yeas and nays, the bill passed to be enacted by a vote of 32-7 and was ordered signed by the President and laid before the Governor. The chamber also adopted a motion to adjourn in memory of State Representative Carol A. Doherty, followed by a moment of silence, and then agreed to adjourn until the next day at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• summer, may we stop to appreciate that it is You, our Creator, who established the sun and the moon to mark
• :17.120> to who established the sun and the moon to who established the sun and the moon to mark
• 18.639> and<00:05:18.880> revealed<00:05:19.280> in<00:05:19.440> each mark
• the seasons and revealed in each mark the seasons and revealed in each one<00:05:19.840> the<

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

Transcript Highlights:

• In testimony March 31st in HB 7, LDEQ and the Secretary of State had the following information at mark
• The next three up in support: Caleb Atwell, Mayor of Killian; Julie Sawyer, self; and Mark Guillory.
• I'm retired Colonel Mark Guillory from Pine, Louisiana. I'm sorry, I hope Mr.
• And Mark Guillory for House Bill 6 already spoke. Councilman Coates, how are you? Fine, sir.
• Susie LeBrie, I'm sorry, Summer Smith, Mark Guillory, Julie Sawyer. Thank you.

Keywords: 965, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It just may not progress as quickly as Mark and I would like.
• It just may not progress as quickly as Mark and I would like.
• It just may not progress as quickly as Mark and I would like.
• It just may not progress as quickly as Mark and I would like.
• It just may not progress as quickly as Mark and I would like.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee met to review the annual report on collaboration between the University System of New Hampshire and the Community College System of New Hampshire, and the meeting began with approval of the prior minutes and a gubernatorial proclamation recognizing the community college system’s 80th anniversary. Both chancellors praised the proclamation and described the report as a statutory follow-up to the public higher education task force. They said the two systems have built a close working relationship and that the collaboration is intended to continue, though progress may be limited by resources and staffing changes. Much of the discussion focused on transfer pathways and new academic models. The chancellors said House Bill 1530 helped drive the creation of more than 100, and possibly about 130, “universal pathways” between the systems, with a reported 30% increase in community college associate-degree graduates transferring to the university system in the last academic year. They also discussed direct-admit outreach for community college graduates, early college and CTE-to-workforce pathways, and the development of three-year bachelor’s programs at Plymouth State and in some health-care fields. Members asked about nursing, allied dental health, and radiologic technology, and the chancellors said they are exploring whether some programs can be streamlined, while noting that nursing’s requirements may limit how short a pathway can be. Members also raised concerns about whether transfer pathways could affect university enrollment, but the university chancellor said declining enrollment is more likely due to a smaller pool of college-age students and broader competition, not the transfer programs. Another topic was the ERP/technology platform recommendation from the task force: the university system is moving to Workday, while the community college system is working to align business practices and move from an on-premises system to a cloud-based solution. Officials said a shared enterprise system could create efficiencies in the future, but it is not expected in the short term; student-facing tools like Canvas are already shared. The committee also discussed House Bill 112, which would require passing a civics test for graduation, and the chancellors said they support civic education but see implementation challenges. No votes or formal actions were taken beyond approving the minutes and receiving the report.

Transcript Highlights:

• us humming all week long: Dave Kasha, Matt Newman, Lisa Handelman, Carlene Amand, Jim Zambrano, and Mark
• Lanton, Monique Ching, along with Mary, Marianne, and Martin, Monique Ching, along with Mary, Mary Ann, Mark
• Mark. Joan Lovely, yes. Paul W. Mark. Liz Miranda, yes. Mark C. Montigny. Michael O. Moore, yes.
• Mark? Mark C. Montigny? Yes. Patrick M. O'Connor? Yes. Rebecca L. Rausch? Yes. Michael F. Rush.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Senate took up a long series of FY26 budget amendments during debate on the Ways and Means budget bill. Early on, an amendment on debt service and the Debt Affordability Committee was rejected. A major education amendment offered by Senator Lewis and supported by Senator Comerford was then adopted; it directs DESE to begin a public process, with $200,000 in funding, to review and recommend updates to the Chapter 70 municipal contribution formula and related school funding structures as the Student Opportunity Act nears full implementation. Senators argued that school districts across the Commonwealth are under severe fiscal strain, citing rising special education, transportation, health insurance, and Proposition 2 1/2 pressures, and that the current formulas are increasingly out of alignment with local needs. The chamber also considered and voted on many other amendments, with several adopted and several rejected. Adopted amendments included measures on public payroll transparency, regional EMS, a small business group purchasing cooperative pilot, simplifying Medicaid eligibility determinations, and early education background checks. Rejected amendments included proposals on first-time homebuyer savings accounts, population change studies, competitiveness studies, emergency contract reform, natural gas cost containment, a $200 per pupil aid increase, regional school reimbursement increases, a Foundation Budget Review Commission-related study, special education service studies, welfare benefit audits, short-term capital gains, and an MBTA sustainability plan. Senator Durant also spoke in support of Amendment 766, which would create a crumbling concrete assistance fund for homeowners affected by pyrrhotite, with tax-exempt aid, federal funding applications, audits, and a stakeholder working group. Near the end of debate, Senator D. DiDomenico praised the Shannon Grant program for gang violence prevention, and the Senate adopted a final corrective amendment containing technical fixes and local earmarks. The bill was then ordered to a third reading and, after a roll call on engrossment, passed to be engrossed by a vote of 38-2. The Senate also approved a motion to adjourn to the following Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. and recessed in memory of Yaron Lashinsky, Sarah Lynn Milgram, and Leslie A. Feeney.