Transcript Highlights:

• I am the licensing unit chief for the Bureau of Licensing and Certification at the Department of Health
• and Certification at the Department<00:37:04.400> of<00:37:04.560> Health<00:37:04.800
• <00:37:08.880> and I'm the general counsel with the Bureau of Licensing and Certification.
• <00:53:01.040> website<00:53:01.800> OPLC licensing and certification website OPLC
• licensing and certification website OPLC and<00:53:03.040> it<00:53:03.200> would<00:53

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <02:16:48.040> requirements standards certification requirements standards certification requirements
• an effort to appease a woke mob, the Biden DOE foisted burdensome regulations at the top of the certification
• The rule in question requires additional certification, additional labeling, and additional reporting
• The rule in question requires additional certification, additional labeling, and additional reporting
• 03:35:22.000> appliance<03:35:22.479> standards Program for appliance standards, certification

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• aid, although the legislation has provided some avenues for this for us to only rely on direct certification
• this for us to only rely<01:05:11.240> on<01:05:11.520> Direct<01:05:11.920> certification
• <01:05:12.760> our rely on Direct certification our rely on Direct certification our compensatory
• 80% of our families still qualify for compensatory aid, but they're not included in the direct certification
• that mde is using that we certification that mde is using that we also<01:39:38.440> have<01:

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• current law says the guy doing the development, the guy doing the buying, they have to pay for the certifications
• ><04:34:16.240> pay<04:34:16.480> for<04:34:17.520> the<04:34:18.480> certifications
• they have to pay for the certifications they have to pay for the certifications and<04:34:19.840

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• For any license or certification issued by the board.
• issued by the license or certification issued by the board.<04:30:37.359> That<04:30:37.600><
• <05:12:37.760> or and there's no certification or and there's no certification or licensing
• She firmly believes that the certification process established in this bill is both necessary and long
• <05:13:22.080> process believe that this certification process believe that this certification

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• c><02:45:48.880> is the training and certification is the training and certification is affordable
• certification requirements are minimal certification requirements are minimal and<02:50:37.840><
• certification, are very small.
• <02:57:44.080> for and and the costs for certification for and and the costs for certification
• As part of that certification, what it does is it says they have a limited liability relief.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And I know every time we get a delivery, we have a paper handed to us with certification that they are
• or or a getting a health certificate or or a permit<00:34:23.720> and<00:34:23.839> so
• With that importation permit, they have to request the fish health certificate testing.
• request the fish health certificate request the fish health certificate testing<00:40:25.160>
• USDA does do have a certification USDA does do have a certification program<04:53:42.240> for

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We offer associate degree and certificate education, customized training with... making a difference
• offer associate degree and certificate offer associate degree and certificate education<01:36:20.800
• Yes, there are many folks who take just a course or they take a certificate, and it would be great if
• It might be a short-term technical certificate.
• <04:27:20.720> from withholding degrees or certificates from withholding degrees or certificates

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee held a hearing on HB 366, which would increase school building aid for eligible projects. Representative Cahill, the prime sponsor, said the bill would raise the annual minimum from $50 million to $60 million and help address a long backlog of school construction and renovation needs after years of a moratorium on applications. He argued that districts forced to build during the moratorium were left to shoulder costs through local property taxes, and he cited examples such as Londonderry, Claremont, and other communities with aging or inadequate facilities. He also said the current aid structure, including paying 80% upfront and 20% at completion, concentrates too much spending at once and limits how many projects can be funded. Several committee members asked about the fairness and structure of the program. Representative Maguire questioned whether aid should be distributed more broadly to all districts rather than only a few selected projects, and Representative Luneau noted that the committee would also be considering related bills on catastrophic aid, special education aid, and the school foundation formula. Cahill responded that building aid has historically been targeted to property-poor communities and that the state should be a reliable partner in school construction. He also said the bill includes a small retroactive component for communities that built during the moratorium, which he described as a compromise. Testimony in support came from Representative Cluder, who described Claremont’s Stevens High School project as a case where a bond issue narrowly failed and the city later had to fund renovations without state aid, contributing to high property taxes. He said the bill would help property-poor communities and urged passage. Tony Weinstein of New Market also supported the bill, saying his community had serious facility and safety needs, had moved forward with scaled-back renovations during the moratorium, and still faced debt-service burdens without state participation. Robert Thompson, superintendent in Hampstead, testified that his district needs an addition for overcrowding, safety, and special education space, and said building aid would help reduce out-of-district placements and transportation costs. No vote was taken in the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• It requires public entities certificate.
• I should be getting my birth certificate from the state of Maryland in the mail with a female gender
• I should be getting my birth certificate from the state of Maryland in the mail with a female gender
• So, I just wanted to like certificate.
• <02:29:01.600> the<02:29:01.640> state<02:29:01.840> of my birth certificate

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• certificate modernization Act, amendment number one.
• , and on certificates of birth, licenses, and identification<00:07:37.400> cards,<00:07:38.080
• , and identification cards, and birth certificate modernization Act, amendment number one.
• House Bill 939, Certificates of Birth Filing Time Period, Amendment number one.
• 00:25:59.480> filing<00:26:00.040> time 939, certificates of birth filing time 939, certificates

Keywords: House streaming session for Saturday, April 11, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House met in session, opened with a prayer, confirmed a quorum, and then moved through a long series of concurrence items and committee reports. Early on, the House rejected Senate amendments to House Bills 14 and 573 and sent messages asking the Senate to recede or appoint conference committees. It also entered conference on House Bill 907 (third degree assault) and on several other measures where the chambers disagreed, including Senate Bill 233 (cemeteries) and Senate Bill 626 (sex designation on birth certificates and IDs). House Bill 501, dealing with sexual offenses by a person in a position of authority, was concurred in and passed unanimously. The House then took up a large concurrence calendar and passed a number of bills with Senate amendments, including House Bill 613 on living shoreline waivers, House Bill 315 on income-based housing subsidies, House Bill 548 on development rights and the Maryland Housing Certainty Act, House Bill 571 on nonprofit housing corporation tax exemptions, House Bill 895 on predatory pricing and protected class data, House Bill 1430 on charter school facilities funding, House Bill 1076 on over-the-counter contraception access and reporting, House Bill 624 on hospital staffing committees and plans, House Bill 811 on aging-in-place and multi-generational third places, House Bill 939 on birth certificate filing time periods, House Bill 1151 on a Medicaid hospice reimbursement study, House Bill 1367 on the Commission on Reimagining Healthcare in Maryland, House Bill 828 on State Board of Education membership, House Bill 130 on deed fraud, House Bill 281 on child care provider background checks, House Bill 963 on appointment of personal representatives, House Bill 1326 on child abuse and neglect records, and House Bill 525 on phone-free schools. Several of these were briefly explained on the floor, including changes to shoreline waiver timing, housing and tax provisions, contraceptive access concerns, hospital staffing protections, and the school phone policy’s exemptions. The chamber also received committee reports that advanced additional bills for third reading, including House Bill 1020 and Senate Bill 654 on the State Police Retirement System mandatory retirement age, Senate Bill 877 on Baltimore City stop sign monitoring systems, Senate Bill 940 on water quality testing, House Bill 44 on plain-language ballot questions, Senate Bill 215 on the Maryland Veterans Trust Fund, Senate Bill 627 designating Korean American Day, and Senate Bill 634 on county discrimination complaints. No final votes were taken on those reported bills in the portion provided; the report simply adopted favorable reports and ordered the bills printed for third reading.

Transcript Highlights:

• five years in classes that charge for credits that do not count toward their college degree or certifications
• college that do not count toward their college degree<00:25:52.040> or<00:25:52.240> certifications
• <00:25:53.560> certif- degree or certifications certif- degree or certifications certif- certifications
• . certifications. certifications.

Bills: HF4698, HF4608

Keywords: higher education, identity verification, enrollment fraud, funding, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, postsecondary education, community college, university, developmental education, remedial education, remediation, corequisite, co-requisite, English composition, college readiness, adult basic education, ABE, student placement, credit-bearing courses, noncredit courses

Summary: The committee first approved the March 26 minutes after Representative Coulter pointed out and moved a technical correction to add a missing “T” in “Regents.” The committee then took up HF 4698, which Representative Duran said would address enrollment fraud at Minnesota State Colleges and Universities by funding an automated identity-proofing system. Testimony from Chief Information Security Officer Craig Munson described a commercial software system that would verify student identities using a selfie and a state ID image, reduce ghost students and fraud, speed enrollment, and lessen staff time spent on manual investigations. Members focused heavily on privacy, data retention, and biometric concerns. Representative Cleveland asked what biometric data would be collected, and Munson said it would be limited to a selfie and ID images, not fingerprints or retinal scans. Chair Klippert and others urged stronger Chapter 13 protections and clearer data practices, while Chair Scott asked how long images would be stored; Munson said they should be deleted as soon as identity is validated, with possible revalidation later. Members also raised concerns about racial bias in biometric matching and the need for alternate verification methods. The bill was laid over, and Duran said he would work on the data practices with committee members. The committee then heard HF 4608, presented by Representative Allen for Representative Koznick, on developmental education reform. Allen said too many students are placed into remedial courses that do not count toward a degree, costing time and money and reducing completion rates. Jane Groatman of the International Institute of Minnesota supported the bill, describing students who spent years in noncredit remedial coursework and arguing for a one-semester cap on remedial classes and clearer notice that such credits do not count toward a degree. Mark Grant of Minnesota State College faculty opposed the bill’s approach, saying it imposed a one-size-fits-all model, could undermine open admissions, and should not limit colleges’ flexibility to meet diverse student needs. The bill was laid over for further consideration.

Transcript Highlights:

• They were notified last year by the League of Minnesota Cities that the appropriate certificate or certification
• <00:37:58.960> or that the appropriate certificate or that the appropriate certificate or
• > by<00:38:00.960> the certification that was passed by the certification that was passed
• We think, we know, we would correct the issue and we will make sure that the certificate gets filed with
• Correct the issue, and we will make sure that the certificate gets filed with the Secretary of State.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We get budgets and levy certifications from all the taxing districts and political subdivisions.
• Then there was also the tax director certification, which I believe at that point was 190 hours, and
• So then that's when a lot of the— they couldn't; their assessors lost their certification because they
• And the 15th of March is the first certification date that I sent to the treasurer's office to get payment
• And then we have a second certification.

Summary: The subcommittee of the Tax Reform and Relief Committee met to begin its study of the feasibility and desirability of revising the content of the real estate tax statement to improve property tax transparency. Legislative Council staff reviewed the study directive under House Bill 1176 and the statutory requirements for tax statements, including required line items such as true and full value, mill levy, legislative tax relief, primary residence credit, and the Legacy Fund portion of that credit. The Tax Department then explained how the current uniform statement is prescribed and approved, and noted that changes are typically driven by statute and implemented collaboratively with counties and vendors. County officials from the North Dakota Association of Counties described the full annual tax cycle, from county budgeting and valuation notices to budget hearing notices, levy certification, cap calculations, and final tax statement mailing. They emphasized that counties and auditors do extensive coordination with taxing districts and neighboring counties, and that the process is labor-intensive and often manual. Members discussed the limited public response to budget notices and tax statements, the difficulty of explaining the legislative tax relief line, the 3% cap and valuation issues, and whether more frequent assessments or different timing would improve understanding. Several members and witnesses noted that many taxpayers only engage when they receive their final bill, and that clarity may be more important than adding more detail. NDACO also presented a rough cost survey from eight counties, estimating an average tax statement cost of about 74 cents and a statewide total near $600,000 for printing and mailing tax statements alone, with outsourcing generally cheaper than in-house printing. Witnesses noted that House Bill 1176 added other mailings and notices, increasing county workload and cost beyond the statement itself. The committee then heard from software vendors, who explained how their systems handle tax billing, budget notices, valuation notices, primary residence credit processing, and tax levy calculations, and they identified the 1600/1685 primary residence credit and discount interaction as a current programming challenge. No votes were taken; the meeting was informational and focused on gathering testimony and identifying issues for possible future recommendations or bill drafts.

Transcript Highlights:

• However, certification in CPR and the use of an AED is not required, making us an outlier among the states
• If made a high school graduation requirement, in-class CPR certifications would be an incredible opportunity
• That means requiring a certification.
• That means requiring a certification.
• School staff are also offered hybrid CPR certification coordinated by our fitness educators and nursing

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Education held a public hearing on a large slate of bills, with the chairs emphasizing time limits, written testimony, and grouping similar measures together. Early testimony focused on opioid use disorder education in schools (S.382), with Senator Keenan arguing that students should be taught about the risks of substance use disorder and naloxone use as part of health curricula. Representative DeCost also briefly introduced H.551, a narrow bill concerning parent rights for children in third grade and younger. Several bills were then closed without testimony, including measures on type 1 diabetes informational materials and other diabetes-related proposals. A major portion of the hearing centered on school health and emergency response bills. Supporters of H.652/S.342 on diabetes management in schools described inconsistent district practices and urged clearer standards so students can receive care in classrooms rather than being sent out of instruction. Bills on epinephrine access and seizure disorders drew extensive testimony: advocates for stock epinephrine in schools argued that unassigned epinephrine can save lives and should be funded in a cost-neutral way, while a pediatrician opposed one version as an unfunded mandate. For seizure-safe schools (S.422/H.635), students, parents, educators, and advocates described missed or delayed responses to seizures, stigma, and the need for staff training, seizure action plans, and emergency medication protocols. A separate bill, H.645, allowing anti-seizure medication on school buses, was supported by a parent and student who said current law forces costly and restrictive transportation arrangements. The committee also heard testimony on youth skin health bills (S.334/H.600/H.619), which would let students carry and apply sunscreen at school and camp without a physician’s note. Supporters from melanoma prevention, dermatology, and industry groups said the bills would remove unnecessary barriers and promote sun-safe habits, while one witness cautioned about drafting details and unintended consequences. The hearing then moved to CPR/AED education for graduation (S.456), where Senator Tarr, a student advocate, and the Red Cross all supported requiring hands-on CPR certification for high school students. Finally, the committee took testimony on healthy school lunches (H.539/S.401): supporters from the Healthy School Lunch Coalition and school food directors backed stronger nutrition standards and a standing advisory council, while Consumer Brands Association witnesses opposed the bill as too vague and potentially disruptive. A nutrition scientist also warned about unintended restrictions on medically necessary or innovative foods. The chairs closed the hearing on the healthy lunch bills and then opened testimony on universal school meals for virtual schools (H.700), with Superintendent Patrick Latuka supporting access for students in Commonwealth virtual schools who currently receive no meal support.

Transcript Highlights:

• bachelor's degree, and be enrolled in a program or course of study leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate
• ,<00:03:06.920> or leading to a degree, diploma, or leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate
• c> North<00:03:08.480> Star<00:03:08.640> Promise<00:03:09.000> awards certificate
• North Star Promise awards certificate.
• opportunity to pursue higher education, supporting our state's goal of 70% postsecondary degree or certificate

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Setting parameters for educational and certification requirements, Setting parameters for educational
• and certification requirements for parenting time expeditors, which do not exceed those required for
• Setting parameters for educational and certification requirements, Setting parameters for educational
• and certification requirements for parenting time expeditors which do not exceed those required for
• least most of the judges I deal with, if you have not completed it and provided the court with the certificate

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Child Custody Review Task Force met with a quorum, approved the prior meeting minutes, and reviewed a memorandum compiling member suggestions for possible legislation. The memo grouped ideas into topics including creation of a family court, expanded education for parents, attorneys, and judges, expedited hearings for parenting-time violations, limiting law enforcement involvement in custody disputes, creating parenting time expediters, and adopting more uniform court procedures. Members also discussed whether to form subcommittees, but the task force decided to continue working as a full committee rather than create subcommittees at this time. The committee then heard testimony from Dr. John Perez, a mental health professional, who described his personal custody experience and his professional work with families he believes have been affected by parental alienation. He argued for stronger education, faster court response times, and better tools to address intentional interference with parenting time. Members questioned him about his case history, the concept of parental alienation, and whether specialized family courts or judges with family-law training could help. Dr. Perez said a dedicated family court and faster hearings would likely have helped his situation. The task force spent substantial time discussing the possible creation of a family court. Judge Hovey supported the idea of a specialized family court or at least a study of one, saying family cases are distinct from ordinary adversarial litigation and that judges with family-law experience could better handle them. Several members agreed that a family court could improve consistency, expertise, and speed, but others cautioned that the task force’s current directive is focused on enforcement of existing orders rather than broader custody policy, and noted that voters had previously rejected equal shared parenting proposals. The group also discussed expedited procedures for parenting-time disputes, with Judge Hovey suggesting a 30-day hearing timeline may be workable. On education, members generally supported requiring parents to complete a parenting education course and adding educational materials explaining court process, child support, and what judges can and cannot do. Mr. McLean suggested a short instructional video for litigants and more family-law education for judges and attorneys, while Ms. Moldenhauer said education could be incorporated into scheduling orders or mediation orders. Members also discussed the Parents Forever course, including whether it should be mandatory in all counties and whether cost is a barrier; no vote was taken on any of these proposals.

Transcript Highlights:

• You created a website that you mentioned in your address on the federal DEI certification.
• You created a website that you mentioned in your address on the federal DEI certification.
• , I don’t know if the committee is aware that we have three states who issue a non-binary birth certificate
• at We have three states who issue a non-binary birth certificate at birth, and we have parents who opt
• Three states from birth are issuing birth certificates that are non-binary, even though we know the sex

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• request, and that has to do with the rule that states revocation or suspension of a license or certification
• So there's just a suggestion in the termination for cause section to include if the license or certification
• 31:14.080> or section to include if the license or section to include if the license or certification
• is lost or revoked for certification is lost or revoked for more<00:31:17.679> than<00:31:18.240
• The problem is the rule cites the requirements in HC 6355 regarding certification for payment of foster

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The committee opened with routine business, including the Pledge of Allegiance, seating alternates, and approval of the minutes and consent calendar. Both were approved without opposition. The committee then moved to the regular calendar, beginning with Department of Environmental Services drinking water rules (2532). Staff noted that the final proposal deleted requirements that had been in the initial proposal, making the published notice technically inaccurate because it said there were no substantive changes. The agency responded that the requirements still exist in other rules, that regulated entities and the Water Council were notified, and that the public had notice through related hearings. After discussion about whether a new noticed hearing was needed, the committee approved the rule. The next item was Department of Administrative Services personnel rule 2510 on seniority and employee performance evaluation. Staff raised informational comments and one unclear comment about language that appeared to require a checkbox even though no form exists, and about evaluation categories that could overlap. The agency said the checkbox language should be removed, but defended the overlapping categories as part of a long-standing template used by agencies for the past 10 years. Members discussed whether the language was too ambiguous or could lead to inconsistent application, but the committee ultimately approved the rule with a condition striking the checkbox language in the affected sections. The committee then considered personnel rule 25109 on investigations, discipline, non-disciplinary communications, and non-disciplinary removal. Staff recommended clarifying language distinguishing license suspension from termination for cause, and questioned whether the sexual-harassment discipline language was too broad because the same conduct could fit multiple discipline levels. The agency agreed to add the suggested clarification for the license-suspension provision, but argued the sexual-harassment language should remain because another rule already provides the factors for determining the appropriate discipline and the agency needs discretion for fact-specific cases. The discussion included concerns about how non-verbal conduct might be treated, but the committee moved toward conditional approval with the agreed clarification and approval of the rest of the rule as written.

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't believe, without something that shows that you're capable of that certification, that doesn't—that's
• the whole point of a certification or a license.
• "Okay, this doesn't work," but this would—we just can't have a certification.
• I don't believe, without something that shows that you're capable of that certification, that doesn't—that's
• the whole point of a certification or a license.

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The subcommittee hearing focused on House Bill 271, which would remove the exam requirement for licensure as a Licensed Social Work Associate (LSWA). The chair and several members expressed reservations about repealing a requirement that was only created in 2021, arguing that licensure should include some measurable demonstration of competency and that it is too early to judge whether the current standard is working. Members also raised concerns about the social work compact and the lack of uniformity across states, saying that changing the requirement now could undermine the standards New Hampshire agreed to at the outset. Testimony in support of the bill argued that the LSWA exam is a barrier for applicants because the level is intended for people without formal social work education, and the exam is the same national exam used for licensed social workers. The witness said there is only one LSWA in New Hampshire, so there is little pass/fail data, but noted that the Association of Social Worker Boards reported 78% of its membership favored retaining the exam. Supporters also emphasized that LSWA holders complete 30 hours of training and extensive supervised hours, and that they are not intended to work independently. Opponents or skeptics questioned whether the exam is the right measure for this role and asked for data showing actual failures or barriers. The discussion turned to possible alternatives, including a different exam, a practical skills assessment, or broader rulemaking authority for the board to set LSWA criteria. One suggestion was to amend the law to give the board authority to develop appropriate standards in rulemaking, rather than naming a specific exam in statute. Members also discussed whether the board could create a more suitable assessment and noted that the current law requires a national proctored examination approved by the board, but there is no national exam specifically for LSWA. No final vote or action was taken in the excerpt, and the subcommittee indicated it would gather more information, including the existing rule language, before moving the bill forward.

Transcript Highlights:

• The initiative would exempt buildings within 10 years of a certificate of occupancy.
• found that it basically halted new development and had to revert to exceptions for buildings with a certificate
• that it basically halted a new development and had to revert to exceptions for buildings with a certificate
• And had to revert to exceptions for buildings with a certificate of occupancy within the last 20 years

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions held a public hearing on Initiative Petition 25-21, House Bill 508, an act to protect tenants by limiting rent increases. Committee leaders explained the Article 48 initiative process and said the hearing was intended to gather testimony for a report to the legislature. The measure would replace current state law that prohibits rent control, cap annual rent increases at the lower of CPI or 5%, exempt certain properties including owner-occupied buildings of four or fewer units, subsidized, university, nonprofit, and short-term rental housing, and exempt new construction for 10 years. It would also eliminate vacancy decontrol, so limits would continue when units turn over, and enforcement would rely largely on tenants and the Attorney General through the courts. The hearing began with expert testimony from Whitney Airgood-Obrien of Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, who described Massachusetts’ severe rental affordability problems and reviewed research on rent regulation, noting mixed evidence on supply and quality effects but clearer evidence that rent regulation can slow rent growth and improve tenant stability. Supporters of the petition, led by Carolyn Chow of Homes for All Massachusetts, argued that rent stabilization is needed now to curb displacement and runaway rent increases, especially for low- and moderate-income renters. Laura Frost described her Arlington building being bought by a large firm that sought steep rent hikes, and said rent control would help prevent “tenant flipping” and community displacement. Dave Foley of SEIU Local 509 said the issue affects workers’ ability to live near their jobs, while Dr. Mark Paul and Tram Huang argued that the evidence supports well-designed rent stabilization, that vacancy decontrol encourages displacement, and that the policy should be seen as a complement to new housing production rather than a substitute. Committee members questioned supporters about the 10-year new construction exemption, the lack of vacancy decontrol, and whether rent stabilization could discourage development; supporters responded that the measure targets corporate rent gouging, that small landlords are protected by exemptions, and that production and rent stabilization can coexist. Opponents, including representatives of small property owners, chambers of commerce, and labor/building trades, argued the proposal would hurt small landlords, reduce investment, and slow housing production. They said operating costs such as taxes, insurance, and maintenance are rising faster than the proposed cap, and warned that the measure would reduce property values and tax revenue and could push investment to other states. Several opponents emphasized that many Massachusetts housing providers are mom-and-pop owners rather than large corporations, and said the policy would make it harder to maintain and improve housing. Committee members pressed both sides on the need for a middle ground between affordability and preserving development incentives, but no vote was taken at the hearing.